WILMINGTON, Del. – The State of Delaware, the Christina School District and the Christina Education Association (CEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday that seeks to improve educational outcomes for students in the City of Wilmington. Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Christina Board President George Evans, and CEA President Darren Tyson joined Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education, and Governor John Carney in signing the agreement.
The MOU includes plans to reconfigure Christina’s city schools, invest new resources in Wilmington schools, and create a Dual Generation Center to offer new services for children and families in communities served by the district. Governor Carney’s proposed budget includes $1.5 million for new wellness centers, staff to reduce class sizes, trauma-informed programming and other services consistent with the MOU. The budget proposal, which Governor Carney will continue to discuss with members of the General Assembly, also includes $15 million to fund capital improvements in Christina’s Wilmington schools.
Governor Carney, Secretary Bunting, and representatives from Christina School District and CEA issued the following statements on the MOU signing:
“Thank you to Superintendent Gregg, the entire Christina School Board, and Christina Education Association for their willingness to work in partnership on this MOU,” said Governor John Carney. “We share a collective goal of doing better by the children we serve in the City of Wilmington. Throughout the process of crafting the MOU, we talked to parents, educators, and students about the needs in Wilmington. Those discussions must continue to make sure we get this right. As we’ve said, now the hard work starts to implement a plan that will improve opportunity for these students and their families. We look forward to getting started.”
“This agreement is the starting point of Christina’s renewed commitment to improving the academic outcomes of our Wilmington students,” said Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg. “We are excited now to begin the planning and implementation stages outlined in the MOU, working with our partners to deliver more intensified learning and support to students in revitalized school communities.”
“The Department of Education looks forward to supporting implementation of this plan, and providing additional resources and support for students and educators in the City of Wilmington,” said Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “Thank you to Christina School District leaders, the Christina School Board, and CEA for their continued partnership on this effort.”
“We are on the pathway of providing educational opportunities that will be the difference-maker for our children’s futures,” said Christina Board of Education President George Evans. “With the support of our teachers, administration, Board, Secretary of Education, Governor, and General Assembly, we will be able to engage our students and families to higher achievement.”
“CEA is eager to move forward in this process to take the first official steps in improving Christina’s Wilmington City Schools,” said CEA President Darren Tyson. “Our teachers remain committed to doing what is best for the Christina students in Wilmington.”
Read the full MOU here.
###
Related news:
Governor Carney’s Statement on Christina School Board’s Vote to Approve MOU