Governor Carney, Christina School District, CEA Sign MOU to Improve Wilmington Schools

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.

 

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Related news:
Governor Carney’s Statement on Christina School Board’s Vote to Approve MOU


Governor Carney’s Statement on Christina Board’s Vote to Approve Memorandum of Understanding

WILMINGTON, Del.Governor John Carney on Tuesday released the following statement on the Christina Board of Education’s vote to approve a Memorandum of Understanding to invest in Christina’s Wilmington schools:

“Thank you to the members of the Christina Board for their important vote tonight on this MOU. This is just a first step, but it’s an important first step. For the past several months, we have worked in partnership with Christina School District leaders, the Board, and Christina Education Association on a plan to invest new resources in these schools, and give students in the City of Wilmington a greater chance to succeed. Now the hard work begins to put this plan into action. We are committed to working with Christina educators, district leaders, students and families to implement this agreement in a way that truly improves outcomes for children in Christina’s city schools. We are in this for the long haul, and look forward to our continued work together.”

 

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Governor Carney, Christina School District, Christina Education Association Announce Letter of Intent to Form Wilmington Schools Partnership

Great Seal State of Delaware, Christina School District, CEA logo

State of Delaware, Christina, CEA also announce town hall meetings to gather feedback from families, educators

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney, Christina School District Superintendent Richard Gregg, and Christina Education Association President Darren Tyson announced on Thursday that they have signed a joint letter of intent to work together and develop a partnership with the goal of improving educational opportunities in the City of Wilmington.

The partnership will address the long-term success for the 1,640 Christina students in preschool through grade 8 who reside in Wilmington and attend the district’s four city elementary schools and one middle school. These schools are Bancroft Elementary School, Elbert-Palmer Elementary School, Pulaski Elementary School, Stubbs Elementary School, and Bayard Middle School.

Christina School District will work with staff from the Governor’s office, the Delaware Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement, and the Christina Education Association to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this calendar year and submit the MOU for approval by the Christina Board of Education.

The MOU will define the roles and commitments of each party in crafting a system designed to create great public schools for every Christina student in the City of Wilmington. Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education, and Dorrell Green, Director of the Office of Innovation and Improvement, also signed the joint letter of intent.

“It’s always been clear to me that as goes the City of Wilmington, so goes our state. And improving our city starts with improving our schools,” said Governor Carney. “We are committed to working in partnership with the Christina School District, the Christina Board of Education, the Christina Education Association, families, educators, and community members, to improve outcomes for students in Christina’s city schools. We have a responsibility to do better by these students, and I look forward to getting to work.”

“The Christina School District is committed to exploring every option available to improving achievement for its students,” said Richard Gregg, Superintendent of the Christina School District. “We are willing to enter into this partnership to explore the development of an MOU that clearly outlines the commitments that will be made by all involved. The Christina Board has been clear that any agreement that is developed must focus on what is best for our students, and we will work with the Department of Education and the Governor’s Office toward this goal in good faith.”

“We welcome the Governor’s initiative to partner in service to our Wilmington students,” said George Evans, President of the Christina School District Board of Education. “We need to create and maximize new pathways to excellence and equity within our Wilmington schools.”

“CEA and its members look forward to entering into this partnership and working together to create an MOU that best serves and supports the Christina students in Wilmington,” said Darren Tyson, President of the Christina Education Association.

Read the full letter of intent here.

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Governor Carney will join Superintendent Richard Gregg and CEA President Darren Tyson at two Wilmington town hall meetings to discuss the partnership between the State of Delaware and the Christina School District:

Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools Partnership

This event is open to the press.

WHAT: Governor John Carney will join Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Office of Innovation and Improvement Director Dorrell Green, the Christina Education Association, members of the Christina School Board, and community organizations to discuss the partnership, and ideas for improving Wilmington schools, with families and educators in Wilmington. Governor Carney, Superintendent Gregg and others will take questions.

WHO:          Governor John Carney

Richard Gregg, Superintendent, Christina School District

Members of the Christina School Board of Education

Darren Tyson, President, Christina Education Association

Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education

Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education

WHEN:       Wednesday, October 18, 2017

6:30 p.m.

WHERE:    Bancroft Elementary School

700 N. Lombard Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

 

Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools Partnership

This event is open to the press.

WHAT:        Governor John Carney will join Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Office of Innovation and Improvement Director Dorrell Green, the Christina Education Association, members of the Christina School Board, and community organizations to discuss the partnership, and ideas for improving Wilmington schools, with families and educators in Wilmington. Governor Carney, Superintendent Gregg and others will take questions.

WHO:          Governor John Carney

Richard Gregg, Superintendent, Christina School District

Members of the Christina School Board of Education

Darren Tyson, President, Christina Education Association

Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education

Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education

WHEN:       Wednesday, October 25, 2017

6:30 p.m.

WHERE:     Bayard Middle School

200 S. DuPont Street, Wilmington, DE 19805

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