The Indian River School District is set to hold a current expense referendum on Thursday, June 5, seeking voter approval for a $22.5 million increase in local funding to offset rising operational costs and preserve educational services. Its first crack at a referendum failed in late March after 53% of voters rejected a proposal that would result in a nearly …
Former Indian River principal arrested on multiple charges related to falsified payments
A former Sussex Central High School principal, Judith Brittingham, has been arrested on multiple charges, including Official Misconduct, Theft, and Forgery, after an investigation revealed that she falsified payments to a staff member in the Indian River School District (IRSD). On March 19, Brittingham, 46, of Lewes, turned herself in after a warrant was issued for her arrest in connection …
Indian River referendum fails with 53% voting against tax hike to support district growth
Less than a week after the Smyrna School District’s residents voted down a $5.4 million operational referendum that would increase taxes $277 annually to the average homeowner, the Indian River School District had the same fate. READ: Smyrna operational referendum fails for 2nd straight year, would have spiked taxes $277 annually Indian River, which had its first operational referendum in …
Indian River holds first operational referendum in 8 years March 20, $289 avg. tax increase
The Indian River School District will have a referendum Thursday, March 20, five days after Smyrna has theirs. Those are the only two districts having a referendum this year, compared to last year when six of the 19 school districts had one, which was the highest in 14 years. READ: Why Delaware is having the most school referendums in 14 …
Report suggests educator shortage slowly improving in Del.
The nationwide educator shortage has been a thorn in the side of schools, but the burden is easing in the First State. Delaware’s public schools have 259 vacant staff positions (2.5% of the total educator workforce), a 52% decrease compared to the previous hiring season. Delaware has more than 10,000 instructional and non-instructional workers. However, not all openings are …
Educators grapple with how to use AI in Delaware classrooms
Every conversation with leaders from nine Delaware colleges and high schools about artificial intelligence’s presence in the classroom reveals unique ways the evolving technology is being used. It’s created a problem for schools and colleges wrestling with setting up their guardrails and adopting recent guidance published by the Delaware Department of Education. “AI has been in the education space for …
DIAA condemns Indian River for student-athlete participation in TV commercial
The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) has issued a formal letter of reprimand to Indian River High School for having student-athletes in a TV commercial. The letter, issued Tuesday, cites that the school failed to comply with DIAA regulations concerning student-athlete eligibility and amateur status, following an investigation into the participation of the Indian River High School Football team in …
Deer puts East Millsboro Elementary on lockdown Mon., Tue.
East Millsboro Elementary in the Indian River School District was placed on a lockdown Monday and Tuesday because unidentified people were spotted on or near the school campus. According to a district spokesperson, the school was placed on SECURE status, which means that all students are kept inside the building. All doors to the outside are kept locked, which is …
All 7 board members agree: Fire Bradley Layfield
The Indian River School District Board of Education on Thursday voted to uphold the termination of a school principal enmeshed in a scandal involving a video image of a student’s breast. In its private executive meeting Thursday night, the district board voted to uphold its firing of Bradley Layfield, former principal at Sussex Central High School. In response, Layfield’s lawyer, …
Layfield hearing: Employees say he was jovial showing video
GEORGETOWN — Ousted Sussex Central High School Principal ’s hearing Thursday to clear his name stretched into the mid-afternoon as person after person testified he seemed jovial at showing a video of a school fight in which a student’s breast was exposed. Layfield was fired by the Indian River School District after being accused of circulating the video of the …