The Delaware Department of Education announces the 2019-20 U.S. Department of Agriculture policy for free and reduced price meals for children unable to pay the full price for meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and After School Snack Program. Each participating school and its administrative office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

 Meal benefit forms will be sent home with a letter to families. To apply for free or reduced price meals, families should fill out the form for their households and return it to the school.  The information provided on the form will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by program officials. Information on the form may not be used for any other purpose unless consent is granted by parent/guardian.

 For program officials to determine eligibility, households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and/or Delaware Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (DE-TANF) must list the child’s name, SNAP and/or DE-TANF case number, and provide a signature and name of an adult household member.  Households not receiving SNAP and/or DE-TANF must list: names of all household members; the amount of the gross income for each household member received last month; the income source and how often received; the signature of an adult household member; and that adult’s last four digits of social security number, or the word “none” or “No Social Security Number” box marked if the adult does not have a social security number.  The form may be submitted at any time during the school year.

 Under the provisions of the free and reduced price policy, the school nutrition services supervisor will review forms and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents or guardians wishing to make a formal appeal may make a request either orally or in writing to the administrative office for a hearing on the decision.

 Children who are enrolled in Head Start or who are homeless, migrant, runaway or in foster care are eligible for free school meal benefits. In certain instances, children receiving WIC may also be eligible. Parents or guardians wishing to apply should follow the instructions on the form or contact their school for more information.

 Find the income scale here.

 Households may report changes or reapply for meal benefits anytime during the school year. The information provided by the household is confidential and will be used only for purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data.

 The U.S Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination  against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the department.  (Not all prohibited basis will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

 In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

 Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

 To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1.  mail: U.S. Department of AgricultureOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW

   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

 Media Contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

DOVER, Del. — After a year-long community planning process led by the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), the newly formed Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy will facilitate access to resources that will allow all Delawareans to circumvent challenges associated with securing nutritious and local food options, minimizing deficiency and vulnerability within communities, and achieving healthy lifestyles. The Council will advise Delaware’s Secretary of Agriculture on policy, project development, resource priorities, and implementation strategies to achieve its goal.

“In a state our size, there is an opportunity to draw real connections between the unique and varied opportunities within each of Delaware’s three counties,” said Nikko Brady, DDA Deputy Principal Assistant. “The value of a council like this is its capacity to pioneer a model for influencing statewide community prosperity by capitalizing on our cornerstone industry – agriculture.”

Created from a combination of on-the-ground learning and government resources and planning, the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy sets the tone for statewide collaboration, evidence-based project development, and connecting Delaware grown products within our communities. This diverse group of field experts will provide insight and recommendations, drive new opportunities for program and policy development, and examine opportunities that may already be well underway and need additional collective support.

“We have learned a lot this past year through our strategic conversations

including growers, producers, community members, businesses, non-profit leaders, public health advocates and so many individuals committed to advancing Delaware’s top priorities surrounding food and farming,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse. “I am excited to work with the Council, under the leadership of David Edgell, to witness the changes in policy that will positively impact Delawareans by ensuring they have access to healthy, affordable food produced by the very best family farms in this country.”

Together, the Council and the Department will explore policy barriers, replicate program successes, and discover pressing challenges and opportunities that will support economic prosperity for the farming community and ensure healthy, affordable food for residents. Agriculture is Delaware’s top industry, providing 20,000 jobs and $8 billion of economic activity, including $1.2 billion in direct sales from 2,500 family farms. Delaware farmers produce a variety of agricultural products on 500,000 acres of farmland, including fruits and vegetables, poultry, corn, wheat, and soybeans.

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For more information on the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, contact Ms. Nikko Brady, DDA Deputy Principal Assistant, 302-698-4503, DDA_FarmandFoodPolicy@delaware.gov

Council will gather feedback from educators statewide, increase the voice of teachers in policy decisions

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney and Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education, announced on Tuesday the establishment of a new Teachers Advisory Council to gather the feedback of educators from across the state.

Secretary Bunting invited two teachers from each of the state’s 19 school districts and six charter school educators to join the group, which will facilitate communication, contribute to solutions, and help increase the voice of teachers in policy decisions. The group will meet bi-monthly to discuss a variety of issues affecting teachers.

“Educators work on the front lines helping prepare Delaware’s children for the future,” said Governor Carney. “We are committed to transforming the Department into a true support agency to help schools and educators better serve their students. This new advisory council will help ensure that we are listening to educators every step of the way as we make policy decisions that affect the classroom. Thank you to the educators who are participating, and Dr. Bunting and our team at the Department of Education for convening this group.”

“This is an opportunity for me to hear directly from those who work closest with our children and often feel the most direct effects of our policy decisions,” said Secretary Bunting.

Teachers participating on the new advisory council were recommended by their superintendents or the Delaware Charter School Network for the voluntary role. Secretary Bunting has asked each to share his or her personal feelings as an individual rather than serve as a representative of a district or charter school’s position on an issue.

This group is in addition to the Teacher of the Year Advisory Council, which Secretary Bunting also meets with bi-monthly.

Educators participating in the new advisory council include:

• Kristyn Bradford of Lake Forest North Elementary in Lake Forest School District
• Seth Buford of Milford High School in Milford School District
  Shorel Clark of Brittingham Elementary School in Cape Henlopen School District
• Marisa Clarke of Central Elementary in Seaford School District
• Guy Cooper of Providence Creek Academy charter school
• Luke Crossan of Waters Middle School in Appoquinimink School District
• Todd Cushman of Delmar Middle School in Delmar School District
• Chelsea Darczuk of East Side Charter School
• Robert Edmondson of Seaford Middle School in Seaford School District
• Catherine (Katy) Evans of Sunnyside Elementary School in the Smyrna School District
• Christina Gallo of Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest School District
• Shelby Gordon of Bunker Hill Elementary School in Appoquinimink School District
• Emily Green of Caesar Rodney High School in Caesar Rodney School District
• Robert Harrod of Cape Henlopen High School in Cape Henlopen School District
• Matt Hoopes of Concord High School in Brandywine School District
• Shelley Hovanec of Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center in Woodbridge School District
• Michelle Howard of Delmar High School in Delmar School District
• Lesley Louder of Dover High School in Capital School District
• Tina Lykens of POLYTECH High School in POLYTECH School District
• Jennifer MacDonald of Smyrna High School in Smyrna School District
• Nathalie Melvin of South Dover Elementary School in Capital School District
• Phyllis Mobley of Harlan Elementary School in Brandywine School District
• Elaine Norris of Mispillion Elementary School in Milford School District
• Petra Palmer of Delcastle High School in New Castle County Vo-Tech School District
• Michael Paoli of Hodgson High School in New Castle County Vo-Tech School District
• Sarah Polaski of Christiana Middle School Academy in Christina School District
• Moraima Reardon of Woodbridge High School in Woodbridge School District
• Lisa Richardson of Millsboro Middle School in Indian River School District
• Matthew Sabol of William Penn High School in Colonial School District
• Dara Savage of Early College High School charter school
• Cameron Sweeney of POLYTECH High School in POLYTECH School District
• Crystal Thawley of Sussex Technical High School in Sussex Technical School District
• Elizabeth Van Aulen of Wilson Elementary School in Christina School District
• Anthony Varrato of Sussex Technical High School of Sussex Technical School District
• Kim Weber of Welch Elementary in Caesar Rodney School District
• Leigh Weldin of Conrad School of Sciences in Red Clay Consolidated School District
• Karen Willey of Sussex Academy charter school
• Jill Young of Lord Baltimore Elementary in Indian River School District
• Stacie Zdrojewski of Red Clay Consolidated School District Office

The Teacher Advisory Council will meet on Tuesday, March 27th from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Collette Education Resource Center Conference Room, 35 Commerce Way, Suite 1, Dover.

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Secretary of Finance Rick Geisenberger is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane L. Cole, CPA, as the new Director of Delaware’s Division of Accounting. The appointment became effective Monday, May 15th.

Ms. Cole most recently served as the State’s Manager of Financial Reporting and Internal Control, overseeing the creation of Delaware’s award-winning Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), which ensures the completeness and accuracy of work submitted to the State’s auditors. She was also responsible for implementation of all new Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements; ensuring the State’s financial reporting adheres to the highest-quality standards. Her responsibilities included overseeing the staff responsible for reviewing the internal control policies for all State organizations.

The Division of Accounting provides financial and technical accounting services and support to state organizations, establishes the State’s internal control structure, and promotes consistent, reliable, and transparent financial information to the public. “Jane is an accomplished financial professional and manager, and she possesses a wealth of expertise in governmental accounting standards and systems,” said Secretary Geisenberger. “I am pleased that she will be overseeing the very capable staff of our Accounting Division and working with agencies throughout State government to boost efficiency, internal controls, and transparency in our accounting and management of revenues and expenditures.”

Before joining State government in 2013, Ms. Cole had 20 years of private sector experience in public accounting and financial management – most recently as Senior Manager of Accounting and Audit at Herbein + Company, Inc., a leading regional CPA firm headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania. There she oversaw audits for scores of governmental and non-profit organizations, as well as 990 tax compliance for the firm’s tax-exempt clientele. Her responsibilities included supervision and training of audit staff and clients in governmental accounting standards, regulations, and compliance matters.

Ms. Cole holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, an Accounting Certificate, and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1999. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Government Accountants, and the Government Financial Officers Association. From 2004 to 2013, she served as a member and then Chair of the Not-for-Profit Committee of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney today received a final report from the Transition Committee that includes recommended action steps in order to achieve policy objectives set forth by the Governor. The Transition Committee created an “Action Plan for Delaware” as a guide for Governor Carney and his administration.

“Thank you to the entire Transition team and all Delawareans who contributed ideas and comments on how we can make Delaware an even better place to live and work,” said Governor Carney. “This report is thorough yet succinct, and it’s something that we can act on. You have put in many hours into helping create an inclusive and diverse report during our transition, and now it’s time to take action.”

“It was a privilege to serve on the Transition team with three dozen committed Delawareans from across our state, and to produce this report on behalf of Governor Carney and the people of Delaware,” said Bill Bowser, Chair of Governor Carney’s Transition Team. “We took the work seriously, presenting detailed action steps that offer a path forward as the new administration takes office. Thank you to the Governor and everyone involved on the four Transition committees, who worked around the clock on this effort over the past two months.”

The Transition Team was divided into four policy committees to develop policy proposals for the Governor’s consideration. The policy committees focused on: Economic Development & Healthy Environment (Doneene Damon, co-chair); Public Safety & Strong Neighborhoods (Charles Madden, co-chair); Education & Healthy Families (Lolita Lopez, co-chair); and Budget & Workforce (Todd Lawson, co-chair). The committees reached out to stakeholders, held public meetings and invited the public to submit written comment.

A link to the full report can be found here: http://de.gov/transitionreport