In Delaware, school board service is an unpaid elected position with a term of 4 years (5 years for board members elected prior to Dec 2021). School board elections are nonpartisan, and are held on the second Tuesday in May each year.The Indian River School District is located in Southeastern Sussex County, serving the towns of Selbyville, Gumboro, Frankford, Dagsboro, Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Ocean View, Millville, Clarksville, Millsboro and Georgetown. A 10-member Board of Education is elected on a rotating basis, so that normally multiple seats are open each year.This race is for 2 seats in district 1 (north and west of Georgetown).
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Neighborhood/area of residence
Georgetown, DE
Are you currently a school board member? (Y/N)
Y
How many school board meetings did you attend last year?
Between regular and special meetings, about 12
I have been employed as a director of a public library for the last 11 years. During that time, I have partnered with schools near the library to enhance their lessons and events, while promoting the library’s services. The library works to support the same families as the district, so I understand the challenges and successes we face as a community. Throughout my experience in managing the library, I have also acquired an understanding of how the complicated federal, state, and county mechanisms work to fund services for local residents.
Funding is the most important issue facing Indian River School District right now. As the district considers budget cuts, more revenue will still be needed for the district to operate. A referendum is the only mechanism a Delaware school district has to increase its revenue, but it has historically been difficult to pass one. Voter concerns range from county property assessments, school administrative costs, to nationwide low test scores, which add to the challenges the district faces.
School boards should carefully weigh community concerns with curriculum, however the objections of some shouldn’t steer the ship. Curriculum is designed and adopted by educational professionals with the goal of student achievement of standards and benchmarks.
The board must ensure that the district is following laws that protect equity in service to traditionally underserved students. Disciplinary practices disproportionately impact students of color and those experiencing poverty. As a board member, I would consider this when making policy and disciplinary decisions. Appropriate staff support should be available to students with additional needs, however adequate funding is necessary to support those roles.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
No. I have heard people say that state government should have total responsibility for schools, however, in that scenario, I would have concerns about resources reaching Sussex County. Furthermore, Sussex County Council should approve impact fees on new development in the area. Despite the funding restriction of impact fees to debt service, the additional income would be transformational to schools in Sussex County.
Student achievement and success hinges on class size, learning opportunities, and therefore, funding. By making sure that district spending prioritizes educator hiring and retention, student achievement will improve.
