The Student Behavior and School Climate Task Force has to submit its final report to the General Assembly by Nov. 1. (Photo by Louis-Photo/Adobe Stock)

School climate group putting final touches on recommendations

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

A state agency focused on improving the social environment of schools is closing in on submitting its final recommendations after reviewing a 25-item draft Monday night. The 24-member Student Behavior and School Climate Task Force, made up of government and educational officials as well as school behavioral specialists and resource officers, is focusing on family engagement, safety on school buses, …

Teacher absenteeism is affecting different districts in unique ways.

Teacher absenteeism calls for staff flexibility, strategies

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

A human resources director for the largest school district in Sussex County shocked a House Education Committee hearing in April when she told them about 300 of its 1,000 educators are off on any given school day. About 800 of those educators are teachers, and their absenteeism rains down problems for the district, said Celeste Bunting, director of human resources …

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 RutzEducation, 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 …

Delaware's teacher union wants the state to follow Maryland's lead and start teachers' salary at $60,000.

State teachers’ union asks for base pay hike

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Delaware’s teacher union proposed a new salary schedule Monday that includes a base pay of $60,000. Of that base pay, $42,000 would come from the state — $12,000 more than it’s currently paying.  Under the plan, teacher salaries would be raised over three years, costing the state $134.5 million in total. By the final year, total teacher salaries would cost …

Wilmington Learning Collab

Nat’l group wants teachers educated about union alternatives

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Opt Out Today, a national campaign to encourage teachers and other government workers to leave their unions, is ramping up its presence in the First State. So far, 69 Delawareans — mostly teachers — have left their union through the program, said Hunter Tower, director of Freedom Foundation Pennsylvania. The Freedom Foundation’s stated mission is to batter “the entrenched power …