The Christina School District Board of Education passed a controversial motion to send the same funds going to charter schools (from the infamous settlement) to all traditional New Castle County School Districts (except for NCC Vo-Tech). The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would bind Christina School District to sending the same funds they agreed upon in the charter school settlement to Red Clay Consolidated, Brandywine, Colonial, Appoquinimink, and Smyrna School Districts. The price tag for this year will be $350,000 but this is a “forever” contract so those funds will go to those districts for students choicing out of Christina to those districts forever. But another motion, that would have allowed for public comment on the issue, failed. Board member John Young summed up the meeting in three paragraphs earlier this morning on Facebook. Newly sworn-in board member Angela Mitchell abstained from both votes.
Last night, Christina School District BOE motioned to settle with Red Clay, Brandywine, Appoquinimink, Smryna and Colonial for $350K + this year and each year in the future forever pursuant to the charter school settlement. The meeting was at Sarah Pyle Academy at 7PM.
It was moved to approve the settlement MOU. Then it was moved to be voted on at the 6.13.17 meeting so the public could comment more fully. There was debate. Board members indicated that public opinion would have NO SWAY in their vote. The vote to vote on 6.13.17 was defeated 2 YES, 4 NO, 1 Abstention. Then the vote to approve handing over CSD monies without input from the public was approved 5 YES, 1 NO, 1 abstention. Of course all votes were public, but if you want details feel free to PM me. I am reeling from shock that board members and key employee(s) deliberately and intentionally told the taxpayers to go to hell with regards to their input. My disappointment extends beyond the board and includes CSD employees and the Supers of all NCC schools and Smyrna SD. An unreal night, I assure you.
I hope there is VOCIFEROUS public comment on 6.13.17 to protest the way the board operated tonight.
I always hated the settlement with the charters. But, let us all hope this is the last song on this record…
The Season Of Myths 
FTR, there were zero public comments in favor or against settling and no looming judicial deadline compelling action last night like the charter settlement. Christina inflicts another black eye unto itself with regards to the public and our transparency and we have no one to blame but ourselves.
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