Announces New Co-Chair to Delaware STEM Council

 (Wilmington, DE)  Governor Jack Markell announces that Dr. Teri Quinn Gray, President of the State Board of Education, will take over as the new Co-Chair of the Delaware STEM  (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Council, replacing former U.S. Senator Ted Kaufman.  Judson Wagner from Brandywine School District remains as the other Co-Chair.

 Created by Executive Order in January of 2012, the Delaware STEM Council was formed to increase opportunities for Delaware’s students and businesses in the growing STEM industries.  Senator Kaufman, a former DuPont engineer, was appointed the Co-Chair of the Council along with Judson Wagner from the Brandywine School District.  Under their leadership, the Council has set about an aggressive agenda to significantly improve student achievement and expand the STEM-capable workforce in Delaware.

 “I am grateful to Senator Kaufman for his hard work and leadership on the Delaware STEM Council,” said Governor Markell.  “He and the other Council members have allowed us take a clear look at where we stand, and their hard work has helped us chart a solid path for Delaware students.  I know Dr. Teri Quinn Gray will hit the ground running.  She has been active in our educational system for many years, as a parent and President of the State Board of Education.  I am grateful for her willingness to serve as we move forward and continue to excel in areas of STEM education.”

 “It has been a singular honor to work with the great individuals on the STEM council to increase the opportunities for Delaware’s students and businesses,” said Senator Kaufman.

The Delaware STEM Council meets today for the first time under the leader of Dr. Teri Quinn Gray.   It will focus on fulfilling the recommendations from the April Annual Report, including developing STEM mentorship opportunities for women and minorities and founding a Delaware STEM Business Network. 

 For more information on the Delaware STEM Council go to www.stem.delaware.gov

Dr. Teri Quinn Gray, President of the State Board of Education, new Co-Chair, Delaware STEM Council

Dr. Gray is a new product commercialization manager for the DuPont Crop Protection Division in Newark, Delaware.  She is member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Women Chemist Committee and the Chair of the ACS’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board. Dr. Gray was appointed by Governor Markell to serve as the President of the State Board of Education in June 2009.  She has been a leader within the Delaware State Parent Teacher Association (PTA) serving as Unit President at Keene Elementary School in 2005-06, Unit Treasurer at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School in 2007-08 and Membership Chair at Shue-Medill Middle School in 2008-09.  She’s a native of Jackson, Mississippi where she graduated from Provine High School and later magna cum laude from Jackson State University with a bachelors of Science degree in chemistry.  She holds a PhD in analytical chemistry from University of Maryland, College Park.

Mandates Creation of Statewide School Safety Plans

Department of Safety and Homeland Security working with schools and districts on comprehensive safety plans, making Delaware first state in country with statewide protocol

 (Wilmington, DE) –   Taking a major step forward in a multi-year effort to improve school safety, Governor Markell today signed into law Senate Bill 233, the Omnibus School Safety Act, which creates a formal statewide framework for comprehensive school safety plans.   The Governor signed the bill among students, educators, school resource officers, police chiefs and other public safety personnel gathered at McKean High School, Red Clay School District in suburban Wilmington/Pike Creek/Hockessin area.

The Act requires the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security to work with schools, districts and first responders to develop comprehensive, up-to-date safety plans.  It also  lays out the responsibilities of the department, schools and districts in meeting the goal of bringing comprehensive school safety plans to each public school (including charters) in the state.   

The Governor prioritized comprehensive school safety plans during his State of the State Address in 2011 and last year, announced the first step in creation of the plans.  Since last year, all schools with State Police Resource Officers have completed school safety plans.  Approximately 25 plans have been completed to date.   

“We want our kids to go as far as their potential will take them but, we can’t control everything.   For students to learn to the best of their abilities, they need, first and foremost, to be safe,” said Governor Jack Markell.  “Our goal is to bring comprehensive school safety plans to every public school and district in our state. This law is an important part of an ambitious, multi-year effort to make our schools and the students in our schools safer.”

“The time spent in school represents a sacred trust that we must honor by making certain our schools are safe each and every day,” said Lewis Schiliro, Delaware Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security.  “Today, we begin the process of bringing all 219 public schools operating in our state under one common safety protocol, making Delaware the first state in the country to do so.”

“Developing a consistent approach to handling emergencies in our schools will help our first responders in dealing with a crisis situation,” said Senator David Sokola (D-Newark), who sponsored the measure. “It also should help give students, parents, teachers and administrators more peace of mind by knowing that people won’t be scrambling to deal with an unexpected crisis situation.”

“What this bill does is direct the right people to issues,” said Representative Dennis E. Williams (D-Talleyville), lead sponsor in the House.  “This takes advantage of the expertise of Capitol Police in building security and allows school administrators to focus on their tasks.”

“No one thinks a disaster or tragedy can or will happen to them,” said School Resource Officer for Milford schools, Milford Private First Class Officer Joe Melvin.   “While the probably is not high, the possibility that something can happen warrants our preparation.” 

Rafael Velez, a tenth grader at McKean said, “Some people decide to do terrible things in schools.  We have to be more careful every year.”

Statewide School Safety Plans

Under the Act, the  Department of Safety and Homeland Security will lead the effort to bring comprehensive school safety plans statewide.  The Department’s responsibilities include:

• Working with school officials and first responders to help schools develop their safety plans;
• Assisting schools and districts in conducting training exercises;
• Reviewing and approving plans; and
• Adopting regulations as needed to implement this program.

Much of the “ground level” work, such as preparing plans and conducting exercises with schools, will be done by Capitol Police, an entity that is already responsible for securing state buildings and facilities.  

SB 233 further requires schools and districts:

• To designate a “school safety team,” who will assist in developing and submitting to DSHS an approved school safety plan; and
• To work with DSHS and first responders to conduct one critical incident exercise per year, and one “tabletop exercise” (i.e., an informal discussion involving simulated emergency scenarios) every 2 years.

Ultimately, the goal of the Omnibus School Safety Act is for each school and district to have a safety plan with four key elements:

1. Comprehensive – Not just a checklist, but a thorough plan.
2. Coordinated with first responders.
3. Site-specific – That is, tailored to the particular layout of each facility, and in some instances, to its geographical location.  For example, if a school is in a floodplain, that school’s plan will include contingencies dealing with floods.
4. NIMS-compliant – “NIMS” is the National Incident Management System, a framework for emergency response developed by the federal government.  It stresses coordination and collaboration with first responders.

 The state budget this fiscal year commits  $400,000 to create school safety plans for approximately 50 schools.

To view the bill signing, click here: http://youtu.be/aFN8qEcRjvU

NEWARK, DE (September 12, 2012) – City of Newark officials were joined this morning by Governor Jack Markell, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt and DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara to mark the long awaited grand opening of the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail. The trail was ten years in the making and a result of the City of Newark’s partnership with several agencies including DelDOT, Delaware State Parks, University of Delaware, and DART.

 The two mile long trail, built along the former Pomeroy –Newark Rail Line, is unique in that it provides direct access to a commercial area – Main Street, the Newark Shopping Center, and the University of Delaware’s Laird Campus .The trail provides safe and convenient ways to reach businesses, parks, and transit. Providing an alternative means of transportation to the area is expected to have economic benefits as well by serving a diverse group of people including students and shoppers as well as runners, walkers, and bicyclists. Additionally, the two mile trail extends north through Newark into the White Clay Creek State Park and becomes another recreation corridor that will encourage more physical activity.

 Making Delaware a healthier, more active, more vibrant and attractive place to live and work are critical elements of Governor Jack Markell’s Trails and Pathways Initiative, of which the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail is part. Trails and bike routes are essential elements of the initiative. Since July 2011, 9.1 miles of new trail have opened; 7.5 miles are under construction, and 17.3 miles are in planning and design. A vital outcome of opening trails such as the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail will be improved connections within communities and from community to community linking workplaces, schools, parks, libraries and businesses. In addition, there are nearly 12 million people who live within one hour of Delaware’s borders, in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia. There is tremendous potential to boost trail tourism for both day visitors and overnight tourists as a result, in Newark and elsewhere.

 “This trail offers Delawareans a chance to hike and bike and enjoy the outdoors while making our state more walk-able, bike-able and livable,” said Governor Jack Markell.  “Residents and visitors are gaining access to something that connects them to businesses, schools and leisurely destinations.  The trail recreationally benefits its users and economically benefits the larger community.”   

“The Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail has been over a decade in the making and its completion is all due to a collaboration of all levels of government,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “The Federal Highway Administration provided $4.7 million for the design and construction of this trail. That, along with funding from the State and coordination between the City of Newark and WILMAPCO, has provided another safe and healthy way for walkers, runners and bikers to enjoy this community.”

 City officials noted that discussion of the trail began as early as the 1990’s. In 2001, support began to grow with the Newark Bicycle Committee advocating the project. A feasibility study was funded by DelDOT and then a public workshop about the project was held in 2004. Funding was approved in the federal highway budget in 2005 for consecutive years through 2009 for $4.7 million for design and construction of the trail. DelDOT funded the purchase of the trail right of ways in 2006 for $2.6 million, and the value of those lands was used as the 20% required local match. Construction on the trail began in late August 2011.

 “As we continue to rollout new trails and pathways statewide, we will be working with DNREC and others to provide a bicycle trail and pathway system that can live up to the excellence our citizens expect and visitors to our state admire,” said DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt.

 “It’s for this generation to connect our communities so that pedestrian and biking travel is possible and practical for the sake of good health, cleaner air, a stronger economy and quality of life,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “With the opening of Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail something remarkable happens:  this section of the trail fills one of the critical gaps between existing trails and pathways that will eventually give the hiker, biker, and runner continuous and safe access to more than 75 miles of trails from the James Hall Trail into White Clay Creek State Park, and the Redd and Reservoir Parks, and the Middle Run Valley Natural Areas.”

“This is a great day for Newark,” said Newark Mayor Vance Funk. “As Mayor, I am filled with pride that Newark continues to make its mark by creating amenities that you do not find everywhere. I am happy to have the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail added to our already extensive trail system and the fact that we are able to make it safe and keep some of the history of the area for our children and grandchildren to enjoy are why Newark is such a great place to live.”

Video of the ribbon cutting can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/nq2zsY6Df-0

Governor: Pens, pencils, laptops, netbooks and notebooks. It’s back-to-school for thousands of Delaware students, including those here at Maple Lane Elementary School in the Brandywine School District. I am joined by Secretary of Education Mark Murphy and we are welcoming back students, staff, teachers and administrators.

Secretary Murphy: Because Maple Lane operates on a balanced calendar, teachers and students are back in class here already. Like many of the children getting off their school buses today, the Governor and I both are excited for the new school year.

Governor: We know this will be an important year for our students, parents, educators and state. We deepen implementation of our Race to the Top plan; raise the bar for students with Common Core standards; and further develop the education profession with more comprehensive evaluations of performance.

Secretary Murphy: We’ll also increase our support for struggling schools through the Partnership Zone and Focus School programs.  Our teachers and students had great success last year. More than ten-thousand additional children left school proficient in reading and more than nine-thousand additional students reached proficiency in math. The gains occurred across all grades and subjects.

Governor: As excited as we are about that progress, we know our work isn’t over. We are preparing hundreds of elementary school students with four world language immersion programs and have launched new Early Childhood education initiatives. And it is the year our students will take the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, which will help us benchmark our students’ progress against the nation’s. We know that our state’s future success depends on how well we work together to prepare our children for a competitive world.

Secretary Murphy: We are on the path to success, but we must continue to work hard, making challenging decisions and difficult changes. And we must continue to evaluate openly what is working and be willing to change direction when needed.

Governor: Secretary Murphy and I want to thank educators, parents, students and communities who have worked so hard to improve student learning over the past few years. We look forward to the coming year and later celebrating with you the even greater gains to come, as we work together to keep Delaware moving forward.

WILMINGTON – Delaware Department of Education Secretary Mark Murphy joins the Governor for his weekly message, taped at Maple Lane Elementary School in the Brandywine School District, as they welcome back students for a new school year.

“We know this will be an important year for our students, parents, educators and state,” said Governor Markell.  “ We deepen implementation of our Race to the Top plan; raise the bar for students with Common Core standards; and further develop the education profession with more comprehensive evaluations of performance.  As excited as we are about that progress, we know our work isn’t over.”

“We are on the path to success, but we must continue to work hard, making challenging decisions and difficult changes,” said Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Murphy.  “And we must continue to evaluate openly what is working and be willing to change direction when needed.”

At noon every Friday, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form.  The message is available on:

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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: A New School Year With New Challenges