The following guest column was written by Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick.

As Delaware Secretary of Education, I am entrusted with overseeing and improving educational systems throughout the state. A crucial part of this responsibility is making sure schools have the resources they need to provide a quality education to all students. In Delaware, one of the key mechanisms for securing these resources is through school referenda.

School referenda typically involve proposals for tax increases or bond issuances to support various aspects of education, such as infrastructure improvements, hiring additional staff, and expanding educational programs. Referenda are fundamental to the democratic process, allowing communities to have a direct say in the funding and operation of their local schools.

Over the next few months, six districts will pursue referenda: Brandywine (Feb. 13), Red Clay Consolidated (Feb. 28), Colonial (Feb. 29), Smyrna (March 9), Cape Henlopen (March 26), and Appoquinimink (April 23).

The importance of school referenda cannot be overstated, especially in a state like Delaware, where local control over education is highly valued. Giving residents the opportunity to vote on funding measures ensures that decisions about education investments are made at the grassroots level, reflecting the priorities and values of each community.

Adequate funding is critical for providing students with access to modern facilities, technology, and resources. It allows us to attract and retain talented educators, offer a diverse array of academic and extracurricular opportunities, and support students with diverse needs. Without support garnered through school referenda, schools may be forced to make difficult decisions, such as cutting programs or deferring essential maintenance, which can have profound consequences for students, hindering their educational experiences and potentially limiting future opportunities.

Moreover, quality schools attract families to neighborhoods, driving property values and fostering economic development. They produce skilled workforces, which are essential for creating businesses and driving innovation.

Despite all the benefits, passing referenda can be a daunting task, requiring extensive community engagement and communication to overcome skepticism and opposition.

As a former teacher, school principal, district superintendent, and now Secretary of Education, I continue to believe in the importance of supporting local referenda. We must work together to strengthen our education system so we can create a brighter future for our students as well as our state.

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

Wilmington DE – The Department of Elections for New Castle County completed the review of the Christina School District Referendum. The review included creating of a list of everyone who voted and then analyzing the data. The list of persons who voted in the referendum is available as an EXCEL file.

The review found that no one voted twice and 6 people who did not live in the School District voted in the referendum as compared to 30 who had voted in the February 24th referendum. Election Officers, however, prevented 43 people who did not live in the Christina School District from voting, 28 people who were not U.S. citizens were not permitted to vote, and 15 people who did not provide required ID were also prevented from voting.  One person who should have been permitted to vote was turned away.

Department of Elections for New Castle County | (302) 577-3464

Wilmington DE. The May 27th Christina Referendum failed. The unofficial results: 5,074 votes were cast for the additional tax and 5,968 votes were cast against the additional tax. The Board of Elections for New Castle County will certify the results at its meeting on June 2nd at 7 p.m.

Results by polling place are now available.

Contact: Howard Sholl, Department of Elections for New Castle County, (302) 577-3464

Wilmington DE. A Christina School District Referendum will be held on Wednesday, May 27th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In order to vote in the referendum you must be:

• A citizen of the United States and the State of Delaware,
• Live in the Christina School District, and
• Be at least 18 years of age on or before May 27, 2015

People who prefer to vote at a location other than a Christina school can vote at First Presbyterian Church in Newark, the Bear Library in Bear, the Quaker Hill Place Apts in Wilmington and the Carvel State Office Building in Wilmington.

People voting at Christina Schools that are Polling Places should avoid bus dismissal times. Dismissal times are as follows:

• High School and Middle Schools – 1:45 to 2:30 p.m
• Most Elementary Schools – 2:45 to 3:30 p.m.
• The following Elementary Schools between 3:25 and 4:10 p.m.: Brader, Gallaher, Keene, Leasure, Oberle, and Wilson

People who have not returned absentee ballots that were mailed to them must return them to the Department of Elections for New Castle County, 820 N French St, Wilmington 19801 before 8 p.m. on May 27th.

The Department should be able to report the results of the referendum between 9 and 9:30 p.m. on Facebook, Twitter, its Web Site and the State of Delaware’s news feed..

People should report problems immediately to the Department by email or phone (302) 577-3464.

Contact: Howard Sholl, Department of Elections for New Castle County,    (302) 577-3464

Wilmington DE.  Deadlines for Christina School District residents to vote by absentee ballot in the May 27th Christina School District Referendum are approaching. Act now if you need to vote by Absentee Ballot.

Residents of the Christina School District who need to vote by Absentee Ballot must submit their Absentee Affidavits by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 22nd in order to have ballots mailed to them. People requesting that the Department mail them absentee ballots may submit their completed Absentee Affidavits by FAX to (302) 577-6545 or by email to absentee@delaware.gov.

Those people who want to vote in person at the Department’s offices in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N French St in Wilmington can do so on Thursday, May 21st and Friday, May 22nd from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesday, May 26th from 8:30 a.m. to 12 Noon.

Voters who were mailed ballots must return them to the Department by 8 p.m. on May 27th in order for them to be counted.

Contact: Howard Sholl, Department of Elections for New Castle County, (302) 577-3464