43 Delawareans are running for school board seats this year.

43 to compete for 23 school board seats in May 9 election

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

The list of school board candidates for the May 9 election has been finalized after delays caused by new background check regulations.  43 candidates will run for 23 vacancies across 16 school districts. That’s one less candidate than 2022’s 42 candidates competing for 19 open seats. State education groups had hoped that more people would run, but First State Education …

The Public Education Compensation Committee will recommend a four-year timeline to increase teacher's starting salary. (Pexels)

Heated debate ends in vote to raise teacher pay over 4 years

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Defying the demands of the  state teachers union, a committee formed to make recommendations on educator pay voted Monday to bring teacher’s starting salary to $60,000 over four years rather than three.  The four-year plan will consist of a 2% salary increase and a flat dollar increase of $1,875 to the base salary for teachers, nurses and administrators each year …

Although the deadline to file for school board candidacy has passed, the final list of candidates will likely come in a few weeks.

School board candidate listings delayed by background checks

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

The deadline for people to file to run for the May 9 school board elections has passed, but it may  take weeks until the final list of candidates is published. The problem: A 2021 law that requires school board candidates to complete a criminal background check and a child registry check.  These must be completed before candidates’ names can be …

The state has until August to release its 5-year plan to expand broadband. (Pixabay)

State details plans for broadband expansion in county hearings 

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Kent County farm owner Jane Warren is anxious to have internet service at her home, but there’s no way to do that now. “We cannot function because everything is done online,” she said during a Delaware Department of Technology and Information public hearing Wednesday night about state efforts to expand broadband access. The department has until August to develop a …

The second round of bonuses for child care workers will be for $700. (Unsplash)

Delaware offers second round of child care worker bonuses

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Tiny Tots Childcare Director Jessica Burns got good news Wednesday: A second round of relief checks for Delaware’s child care professionals. That will help her workers pay for their certifications, which cost between $300 and $500, she said. “This definitely is a retention effort by the state,” she said. “My staff is very, very excited and hoping to get to …

Education Secretary Mark Holodick has been sued by 11 charter schools over alleged financial dues. (Unsplash)

Charter Schools sue Holodick over special ed payments

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

The Delaware Charter Schools Network, 11 charter schools and the Delaware secretary of education are waiting on a judge’s ruling in a lawsuit about $4 million in tax revenue the charters say they are due. The network and the 11 charter schools sued Education Secretary Mark Holodick in Kent County Superior Court in July to get the money and to …

UD alumna Joelle Flynn, left, and Sonia Hounsell will present their product on Shark Tank Friday.

UD alumna jumped into ‘Shark Tank;’ swam away with deal

Jarek Rutz Business, Headlines

University of Delaware graduate Joelle Flynn peddled her lipstick-size toothbrush on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” cutting a $250,000 deal with one of the sharks. FunkkOFF! TeethRefreshers was created in 2010 as a way for people to discreetly brush their teeth when they’re on the move – especially when they’re drinking red wine. It hit the consumer market in 2019. Flynn had …

The deadline to apply to the Redding Consortium's scholarships is today at 4:30 p.m. (Unsplash)

College scholarships application deadlines are approaching

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

A variety of community groups are offering college scholarships, and students who want to apply need to get on it, because at least one deadline is today. “Our scholarship programs are created by generous people who understand that higher education is expensive and they want Delaware students to have more opportunity,” said Allison Levine, vice president of marketing for the …

No means testing is done for the disabled veterans and senior property tax credits. (Unsplash)

Legislators call for means testing for property tax credits 

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Calls to consider means testing before granting veteran and senior housing tax breaks shocked a legislative committee last month. Delaware’s secretary of finance doesn’t think an income-based means test for property tax breaks is likely.  Even so, Rick Geisenberger did say that a means test based on property values not only could happen, but should.  “Seniors get a lot of …

Child care affordability and access (Unsplash)

Child care: 1st State lacks affordable options, report finds

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

A new report from Rodel shows that First State families do not have adequate access to affordable child care. A coalition of advocacy groups – including Rodel, the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children, Delaware Readiness Teams and the First State Pre-K – conducted a survey with hundreds of Delaware families to gauge their feelings about child care …