Governor Carney Issues Statement on Wilmington Learning Collaborative

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday issued the following statement on the Wilmington Learning Collaborative:

“There is nothing more important than making sure our students get the education they need and deserve,” said Governor John Carney. “I want to thank members of the Christina, Brandywine, and Red Clay boards of education who unanimously voted to move forward with exploring the Wilmington Learning Collaborative – a partnership aimed at giving children, families and educators the support they need to be successful. Thank you to all who have come out to public meetings and other forums to discuss the Collaborative. We’ll only be successful if we continue to work together.”

Click here to learn more about the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.

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Governor Carney Sends Letter to Boards on Wilmington Learning Collaborative

Letter urges Christina, Red Clay, Brandywine board members to support schools partnership

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday sent a letter to members of the Christina, Red Clay, and Brandywine boards of education, urging them to support moving forward with negotiations to create the Wilmington Learning Collaborative. The following are excerpts from the letter:

“This letter is to request that, by your February board meetings, you vote to move forward with formally exploring this partnership. This vote would authorize your superintendents to begin formal negotiations to develop memoranda of understanding, with the goal of creating the Collaborative.”

“The Wilmington Learning Collaborative model is one that we’ve seen work in other states. It is a partnership among City schools to work together on behalf of our children in Wilmington – and to empower educators who know best what City students need. It will create a hyper focus on the challenges facing Wilmington students and educators.”

“Unfortunately, we know City students are not getting the education they need and deserve. We have much work to be done to ensure all of our third graders are reading on grade level, to set them up for future academic success. Wilmington children, families, and educators need additional support. I stand ready to offer that support – and I hope you’ll join me.”

“Thanks to the support of the General Assembly, advocates, and educators, significant new funding will be coming to schools across Delaware. Opportunity Funding, K-3 Basic Special Education funding, and additional mental health staff will all make an impact in schools across our state.”

“Additionally, at the end of January, I will be proposing to add $14 million in additional resources to help low-income students, much of which stems from recommendations from the Redding Consortium. Half of that funding will go towards putting the Redding Consortium recommendations into the operating budget, and the other half will go specifically to schools that join the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.”

“I believe City educators are doing everything within their power to help our children succeed. They need our support. I know you feel the same way. That’s what this plan is about: empowering educators on the ground and giving them support they need to improve outcomes for our children who need our help the most.”

Click here to read the full letter to Christina, Red Clay, and Brandywine board members.

Visit de.gov/wlc to learn more about the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.

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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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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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POSTPONED: Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools

Governor Carney to hold Facebook Live Q&A on Education TONIGHT at 7 p.m.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Given the ongoing search for a suspect wanted in connection with shooting incidents in Wilmington and Edgewood, Md., tonight’s town hall meeting on Wilmington schools at Bancroft Elementary School has been postponed.

At 7 p.m. tonight, Governor Carney will be joined by Dorrell Green, Director of the Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement, for a Facebook Live Q&A. They will discuss the joint letter of intent to partner with Christina School District and Christina Education Association to improve Christina’s five schools in the City of Wilmington.

Updated schedule:

Facebook Live Q&A on Wilmington Schools

This event is open to the press.

WHAT: Governor Carney will be joined by Dorrell Green, Director of the Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement, for a Facebook Live Q&A to discuss the joint letter of intent to partner with Christina School District and Christina Education Association to improve Christina’s five schools in the City of Wilmington.

WHO: Governor John Carney
Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 2017
7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Governor’s Carney’s Facebook Page

Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools

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, representatives from Christina School District, 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
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
Representatives from Christina School District

WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 2017
6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bayard Middle School
200 S. DuPont Street
Wilmington, DE 19805

Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools

This event is open to the press.

WHEN: Monday, October 30, 2017
6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bancroft Elementary School
700 N. Lombard Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

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