The Wilmington Education Improvement Commission and the redistricting of Wilmington schools from Christina to Red Clay has been controversial on its best day. Colonial is saying no, and it looks like Brandywine might as well. Delaware State Rep. Kim Williams attended the redistricting committee meeting the other day, and all sorts of information came to light such as:
Red Clay School Board will be holding a Special Board Meeting on November 2, 2015 starting at 5:30 at Red Clay’s District Office. The board may be taking action with regards to WEIC.
But where is the agenda for this Special Board meeting? I can’t see it anywhere on their board docs. The only notice of it is here. How long has this been planned? Next week begins budget discussions with state agencies. With a very large looming budget deficit, more than the public really knows (more on that later), there will not be funding for this initiative without making huge cuts to something else. Has the Red Clay board seen the light, or is this just another meeting to talk about things?
Brandywine School District would like to maintain the current school boundaries.
I’m not certain how much this will impact things as Brandywine has never been a big player in all of this, but with both of the “other” districts backing out it sends a clear message.
Brandywine School Board will bring forward a board resolution at their next school board meeting with regards to WEIC.
Sounds like Colonial and Brandywine are on the same page.
DSEA is very concerned about teachers losing their job because of this plan; district lines being redrawn.
As they should be. Where would those teachers go?
Dr. Daugherty replied back to DSEA and said Red Clay is not going to guarantee that Red Clay will hire everyone from the Christina schools. Christina schools will become a part of the Red Clay School District.
This is just wrong in my opinion. Unless it is a reduction in work force. Red Clay already has some of the most bloated classrooms in the state. If I were Christina, I would back out unless their teachers have a written and assured safety net.
A comment was made, if the plan is just to move district lines and rename schools and not provide any resources or funding; don’t bother moving any further with this plan.
I agree. It sounds exactly what Delaware State Board of Education member Pat Heffernan said a couple weeks ago at their meeting.
My fear of Red Clay dumping WEIC is the aftermath. Will Governor Markell step in and issue an executive order “for the kids”? My gut tells me he will. Which is also going to be the time we start hearing the words “impeachment” if he does. That type of executive decision would certainly shed some light on this and would gel with everything that has been going on behind the scenes for years. Or I could just be paranoid…
The Season Of Myths 