Why Should Delaware Care?
Government works best when its citizens are knowledgeable and engaged. Delaware’s government has scores of commissions, working groups, agencies and legislative committees. All must hold meetings that are open to the public. Below we highlight a few of those meetings that are happening this week.
Below are some of the most important or interesting public meetings happening around the state this week.
- Red Clay considers interim superintendent
- Dover leaders discuss new fees
- State leaders attempt to tackle homelessness
New Red Clay superintendent?
The board of the Red Clay Consolidated School District is likely to appoint an interim superintendent on Wednesday, two weeks after its prominent leader announced he would move to Pennsylvania.
The decision comes at a critical juncture for Delaware’s largest district as its funding and operations could be reshaped in the coming years by two school reform initiatives.
After an approval by lawmakers last month, state officials will begin implementing a new education funding model that will send more dollars to public schools with high numbers of low-income or multi-language students.
Lawmakers also have been mulling a dramatic redistricting proposal that would combine all Wilmington-area school districts into one.
Prior to last month, most believed that Red Clay’s current superintendent, Dorrell Green, would be in charge during the reforms. Green is the reigning Delaware Superintendent of the Year.
But last month Green announced that he accepted a parallel position in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
In response to the announcement, Red Clay school board president Victor Leonard said his board has “a huge task in the next few weeks in finding a leader that will guide our district through some troubling times.”
He said the most pressing issues include declining enrollment, low student proficiency rates, and a “looming” school district consolidation plan.
📍 The Red Clay Consolidated School District Board of Education will meet 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss regular agenda items. Prior to the meeting, the board will hold a closed-door executive session. The meeting will occur at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts located at 100 N. DuPont Road in Wilmington. To attend the meeting virtually, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
Dover leaders talk new fees on tax-exempt property
After working to overcome multiple budgeting challenges this year, Dover leaders are set to introduce a new measure on Wednesday to help create long-term financial stability within the state’s capital city.
The Dover City Council will host a Special Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee Meeting on Wednesday to introduce a new $1-per-square-foot service fee on large-scale, tax exempt properties within the city.
Leaders outlined a list of 20 tax-exempt properties larger than 50,000 square feet that would be subject to this new service fee, including Delaware State University and Bayhealth Hospital.
City leaders argue that because so much of the geographic footprint in Dover is made up of tax-exempt properties, it creates a “structural injustice” within the city’s tax base.
In a 51-page proposal outlining the new endeavor, city leaders preemptively argue against critiques of the proposed service fee, saying that a property’s tax-exempt status would not prohibit it from being charged a service fee.
It is unclear how the leaders of state, healthcare, and educational institutions that would be subject to paying this new fee will react to the proposal.
📍 Dover’s Special Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday inside City Council Chambers, located at 15 Loockerman Plaza in Dover. For more information, including on virtual attendance, click here.
Housing discussions continue
Affordable housing and homelessness have dominated the public debate across the state over the past year. During that time, state officials from various departments have been holding regular meetings to discuss the issues.
The interagency collaborative will meet again this week to discuss transitional and supportive housing measures. Such measures have been a key to efforts to help unhoused individuals find stable housing.
📍 The state’s Transitional and Supportive Housing Subcommittee will meet virtually only on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Click here for more details, including sign-in information.
