Redrawing School District Lines

Redrawing School District Lines

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I have been on record saying that Delaware has too many school districts. 19 public/Vo-Tech school districts and 18 (and counting) charter districts. Each charter school is its own district. To me, that's simply too much administrative overhead. Which brings us to the plan of reducing the number of districts in the city of Wilmington. Something I support, but know that the devil's in the details. When the Wilmington Education Advisory Committee (WEAC) submitted its report to the Governor, one of its suggestions was removing Christina and Colonial School Districts from the city and having the only two districts (Red Clay and Brandywine) serve the city. As a city resident the idea of fewer school districts sounds wonderful. Having four districts fractured the city's voice. It was hard to organize and advocate for city kids since school districts would only listen to people who lived in their district about concerns with their district. I do understand that, but it was extremely frustrating. Especially since 99% of our concerns applied to every district. But those district lines sent us off in four different directions, with less people, and were easily ignored. And, make no mistake, we were ignored. The districts' go-to solution was always to form a committee to study the problem. Where all those committee reports ended up... I have no idea. And it was infuriating to keep bringing up the same concerns year after year only to have district administrators feign surprise and call for a new committee. So, most city residents would be happy with fewer school districts - if it's handled correctly.
DDOE Tells Christina To Close Or Restructure (Charter/Privatize) Its Priority Schools

DDOE Tells Christina To Close Or Restructure (Charter/Privatize) Its Priority Schools

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There are actually three choices on the table: Closure, Charter Conversion/Privatization... and handing all 5 of Christina's city schools to Red Clay. No matter what, Christina loses these schools.
The Christina school board must choose by Feb. 27 whether to close its three Priority Schools or hand them over to charter schools or other education management organizations, the Department of Education said in a letter to district staff Tuesday. The letter leaves one possible alternative: If Christina works with the state on the possibility of redistricting schools so that it no longer operates city schools, it could be removed from the Priority Schools saga altogether.
The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) is very good at closing down schools. Go speak with anyone at these six Priority Schools and ask them when DDOE showed up to "help" them. Surely DDOE has been in these schools for years - since these six schools have been struggling for a long, long time? Surely, DDOE can point to all the support they've given these schools over the years? I hear that DDOE didn't step foot in these schools or offer assistance prior to Governor Markell's Priority School announcement last fall. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe DDOE has been working with the six priority schools for years and drastic action was needed because they exhausted all other options?
Red Clay’s Latest Idea Will Create More Hardship For City Parents, Or… Red Clay Demonstrates, once again, how Clueless They Are

Red Clay’s Latest Idea Will Create More Hardship For City Parents, Or… Red Clay Demonstrates, once again, how Clueless They Are

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I had heard whispers about this for months.  Kilroy spells it out: Red Clay's (RCCD) plan for two of its Priority Schools is to turn one (Shortlidge) into a K - 2 and the other one (Warner) into a 3 - 5 school.  And while I'm no fan of the Neighborhood Schools Act (NSA), Kilroy points out that this move violates the NSA.
Red Clay Super’s Message Regarding The Priority Schools’ MOU

Red Clay Super’s Message Regarding The Priority Schools’ MOU

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"Please be aware that the MOU and the planning process are not the same. The MOU is an agreement to collaborate during the planning process." So... is Merv saying that the MOU is simply an invitation to get-together and chat?  That nothing in it is binding?  It's just a "Hey, could you RSVP so we can set up a time to come up with a plan that doesn't exist - just ignore all that talk in the MOU about the school leaders' salaries and teachers having to reapply for their jobs, etc. because none of that means anything." Question... the 9/30 due date is today - there's a workshop scheduled tonight. Can the board vote at a workshop? If not, what happens if the deadline isn't met?
Red Clay School District Bucks The Class Size Law

Red Clay School District Bucks The Class Size Law

20 Comments
So this happened:
Parents and educators have fought for years to keep class sizes small. But as school populations grow, those efforts run into physical and financial barriers. Sometimes schools run out of space and face difficult decisions. In most cases, there are two solutions: Build more classroom space and hire more teachers (which usually means raising taxes or moving money from other priorities) or approve a waiver allowing more students in classes than the law says is ideal. In the past few years, most Delaware districts have asked their school boards to approve waivers – and boards have always agreed. That changed last week when the Red Clay School Board rejected its district’s request, deadlocking in a 3-3 vote.
Color me surprised.  And while I completely understand the difficulties districts face following this law, it is a law.  An unfunded, feel good law, but a law nonetheless. That said... I like what the RCCD board did. 

Jack Wells Questions Red Clay

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If you aren't on Jack Wells' email list, I'm surprised - since everyone seems to be on this list! But if you're not... welcome to dueling emails. It begins with the one Mr. Wells sent to Red Clay on its hiring practices. Ms. Floore, the CFO of Red Clay responds.