New park coming to Rehoboth Boulevard

Terry RogersCulture, Delaware Live, Government, Headlines, Milford Headline Story

At a recent meeting, Milford City Council authorized Brad Dennehy, Parks and Recreation Manager, authorization to move forward with converting 19 acres of land, known as the Sharp property, into a city park and trail system. The city purchased the land, located next to the former Rookery North, several years ago. “The idea is grounded in Outdoor Recreation, Parks and …

A new committee is continuing to hear more options on changing healthcare for state retirees. (File)

More options, no decisions on state retiree healthcare plans

Sam HautDelaware Live, Government, Headlines, Health

The State Employee Benefits Committee retiree subcommittee is considering more options to save the state money on healthcare over the next 20 years. It met Monday and may meet on July 10 and July 20 to discus options. The options presented relate to the “Other Post-Employment Benefits” that the state is trying to cut back on and close the unfunded …

From left, Tyasia Cannon, MayEllen Clark, Caleb Odou, Chip Rossi (president of Bank of America Delaware), Timothy Nguyen, Samhitha Vallury.

5 First State teens named ‘National Student Leaders’

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Education, Headlines

Five Delaware junior and senior high school students have been selected as Bank of America Student Leaders. The Student Leader Program began in 2004 with the intent to help prepare students to enter the workforce through skills-building and leadership development. “The students are standout young adults who were selected for their involvement in standing up against inequality and injustice, as …

WilmU and Delaware's school districts are working to recruit and retain teachers in the First State.

WilmU’s grow-your-own teacher pipeline results in fast jobs

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Education, Headlines

Angelie Ross-Jimenez is 19 years old with an associate’s degree and a full-time job, and she has Wilmington University to thank for that. The university has created a grow-your-own teacher pipeline program in order to address the teacher shortage in Delaware.  Not only did teachers leave classrooms because of COVID, the state has 4,000 educators eligible for retirement within the …

Through Delaware’s Migrant Education Program, migrant students are supported academically and socially.

Migrant students educated, supported in summer program

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Education, Headlines

Children of migrant workers who move to Delaware – whether from a different state or a different country – can spend the summer receiving educational and social emotional support through a state and federal program. Delaware’s Migrant Education Program is specifically for migrants whose parents work in agriculture and who have moved in the previous three years.  “It can be …

Many First State districts had a graduation rate above 90%.

Here are the graduation rates for each district, charter

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Education, Headlines

There are wide disparities among Delaware’s public school districts and charters in the percentage of seniors crossing the stage to graduate each spring.  Department of Education officials indicated that the most recent data is from 2021 graduation rates.  Recommended: Colonial’s dropout prevention program shows impressive results This year’s data will likely not be published on the State Report Card until …

Spark campers pose for a photo without a dull smile in sight.

Spark: A premier summer camp with something for everyone

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Education, Headlines

Spark Summer Camp and After School Program is quickly asserting themselves as a premier summer camp in Delaware. The camp, formerly a massive karate studio, allows hundreds of energetic children to play their favorite field day games, explore their creative minds, and even learn STEM.  Patrick Preece, a karate master who was already running a summer karate camp, realized that …

Delaware received over $600 million in ESSER funds.

Here’s how $600M in COVID education money was spent 

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Education, Headlines

First State Educate, a local education advocacy group, held a webinar Tuesday to outline where COVID-19 relief money went. Relief funds were spent on learning loss, educational technology, building and mental health.  “As we come through, and hopefully out of the COVID-19 pandemic learning loss and recovery, not just academic, but social emotional recovery is a grave concern of mine,” …

At Tuesday's webinar, key officials will discuss where the nearly $640,000,000 in ESSER funds were distributed throughout Delaware's schools.

Webinar to focus on where COVID education money went

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Education, Headlines

First State Educate will host a school funding webinar Tuesday to discuss where the hundreds of millions of dollars in COVID-19 education relief funds went.  The federal government allocated $122 billion amongst the states in K-12 pandemic funds, and First State Educate wants the community to know where the money is going. Delaware received a total of $637,239,246 across three …

LYTE celebrated its 5th graduating class at Howard High.

LYTE celebrates its fifth class, 100% graduation rate

Jarek RutzDelaware Live, Education, Headlines

Families and friends packed the historic Howard High School auditorium in Wilmington Friday to watch this year’s Leading Youth Through Empowerment scholars graduate from the five-year program. Leading Youth Through Empowerment, referred to as LYTE, is an organization aimed at increasing educational access for low-income students through personal mentoring, rigorous lessons, and leadership opportunities.  Students enroll during seventh grade and …