[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6024479,"mediaKeyId","5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2","parentId",5760299,"title","Board approves schematic design for William Penn roof replacement as part of capital projects","audioSeconds",263,"startMs",5676000,"endMs",5939000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2&start=5676&end=5939","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2/thumbnail_5676000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6024479/Delaware/Board-approves-schematic-design-for-William-Penn-roof-replacement-as-part-of-capital-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024479-494b05cdf28a3dd76f84023e5ba3d719/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672961&Signature=EaM~TtQ8Vbnv6egRWOl-suIo7q3UnUCfezgDDIA444gRM4jEuB0~DSG9IDO3agkGyYfseBAEWbZ6qtECqdL0dPFREOrPYT2RFbLldRfLi0xWViDcIpE~T5nph1poKIeu8vrsKzqm-hI3C2SYrTo3T7AouzUFj5fyWtXm27Lhieru~Kr9sbnW8D1I3vRcBYv2-Vd0rNqKBPVEj4sFEvTAdWa7z9~-N8iZDW1dqE-vpIrVfN84TUafSWZ5YmKpjGwj2Ly2pO2we6x8LAKAzbv~QHfK41ZJXpHgVCc8iFvU936v8sFveYi87PuesYuNRMoW~ap1OfpU1gr83V-FNhE8Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colonial School District","date","2025-07-09T13:58:44Z","article","During the July 8 meeting, the Colonial School District Board of Education approved the schematic design for the William Penn roof replacement project, part of the district capital improvements that followed the bond referendum.

The project was reviewed by the district’s capital construction/major projects group and the capital oversight committee; presenters noted community and parent involvement in the planning. Board members moved and seconded approval of the schematic design, and the motion passed by voice vote.

Administration said the schematic approval is the step needed to forward design documents to the state for required approvals and to schedule construction in the district capital timeline. The board did not change funding levels during the meeting and asked staff to release a public update on the project timeline in early August.

Ending: The board closed the capital update and continued to other routine agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 2025 board of education meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Colonial School Board approved schematic design for the William Penn roof replacement, advancing the capital program work funded by the referendum and reviewed by the district’s capital oversight committee.","taxTitle","Colonial School District, School Districts, Delaware","taxId",13106,"location","Delaware","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6024485,"Board approves intent to terminate one employee after executive session",54,1345000,1399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2&start=1345&end=1399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2/thumbnail_1345000.jpg","/articles/6024485/Delaware/Board-approves-intent-to-terminate-one-employee-after-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024485-d12bfe9207847acb11fc789bdb31d29e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672961&Signature=iGs2EyKkPGgdJJXXTPWdUO1d5hxeytaDRjDLb8rxp0yLxDoeqGs3cJcKtuNVp7KNrD7TX-ERpy7zy17RyPyU5JzITXS6OzaqP8NX0pydgvuTimrMOzPloVYm5e3Zx2fNmx0yMd3fSf1wdJKpeOGbjd3YSwApN1qPAO-pihNj2CgtAgvLR~o56R5Qu1lgm3F~P-FzxcG8dAfzK9hKplLvxaLbny9vlqlQk0zCqGCZ8hDxItSwvpMaIbwUrsjJv49DoIAezC07d3o2bipMMPDpWZopCgm71klZEJZNMVPfoLDqQgRfevtx23sHtzXMHaVJeV9lFZ6mKPGyqerTv5UxSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","After an executive session on personnel matters, the Colonial School District Board of Education on July 8 approved a recommendation from administration to issue an intent to terminate an employee identified by a district employee number.

Dr. Mendel (district administration) notified the board that the item under consideration had been discussed in executive session and requested board approval of the intent to terminate. A motion was made to approve the administration’s recommendation to issue an intent to terminate employee number 205105; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote with no recorded roll call.

Board minutes record the action as approval of the intent to terminate; the board did not discuss details of the case in open session and directed that the matter be handled according to applicable personnel procedures and statutes.

Ending: The board paused briefly and returned to public session and public comment.","Following an executive session, the Colonial School Board on July 8 approved administration's recommendation to issue an intent to terminate for a named employee by employee number.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6024489,"Colonial board completes officer elections, assigns DSBA and legislative representatives",442,757000,1199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2&start=757&end=1199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2/thumbnail_757000.jpg","/articles/6024489/Delaware/Colonial-board-completes-officer-elections-assigns-DSBA-and-legislative-representatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024489-c523e85861fc0de0c17f9e6f514176df/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672961&Signature=M7FjHDB-4lnF2oYNO5THAEXmPs8TKXuY5yXiqNfWnKuuWA-MOZ0-BwgKwOw37N8pqqQ-ZeS~8YzwnEdfs3PgS71hCjSQnV-SWRL6OZSuGOhLIbNusitTWUGJgu40f5aqwy1xxJZEhaqFYON53C6~z0RTFq-RTQXxjChISegOH~e16nIOFlGD-DrXLXDZRKF0-j-cSRpHMX8Gc~wOjN1gaS6KTwMpav2V9p4fFlvp~jccbEs6z3knTootmB72yAHAQSB6gPoN6lzQ-MjKhhxpGUlBbyPifp1sA4qazAQ76VOrYoobJxBG9VjsBeYiFcwME0tU8Ey-nk1dIgXIQtmsaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Colonial School District Board of Education completed its annual organization during the July 8 meeting, closing nominations and electing officers and representatives to external groups.

Board members nominated and closed nominations for board president; after nominations were closed the chair declared the motion carried and congratulated the nominee. The board then took nominations and elected a vice president by voice vote; the meeting transcript identifies nominations moved and seconded by named board members and the chair announced the outcomes.

The board assigned representatives to external and internal committees. Appointments recorded in the meeting included Ronald Handy as the Delaware School Boards Association (DSBA) representative, with Philip Breeding as the DSBA alternate; Keenan Dorsey as the legislative representative and Christine Smith as the legislative alternate. The board also discussed placements for other committee seats and agreed to final appointments by motion and voice vote.

The organization items were taken by motion, second and voice votes; the board did not take separate roll‑call votes for officer elections but recorded the nominations, seconding board members and the closing motions in the minutes.

Ending: The board moved from organizational actions into standard business and the consent agenda.","At the July 8 meeting the Colonial School Board closed nominations and elected new officers and committee representatives; several committee seats and alternates were assigned.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6024494,"Colonial board sets FY26 tax rate increase at 7% after debate over reassessment appeals and federal grant risk",5378,3689000,9067000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2&start=3689&end=9067","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2/thumbnail_3689000.jpg","/articles/6024494/Delaware/Colonial-board-sets-FY26-tax-rate-increase-at-7-after-debate-over-reassessment-appeals-and-federal-grant-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024494-68bbd8d21cb6cf48d9e0e9b9b7c74f40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672961&Signature=TQn38wlxRnpksoeeyFM~Dj6Ya7k7e8sJe3FyYnr3IS4VJ0~iS7Ul8XCWqTFP83xU4zf6Q3KPV-HIJC8usZIbcjCKDTszppFILU3jlmWj8SYhDEbZvogShQcJ9CW1PJZGzzP5Qwl2fdwqNjQJN-MLWXcE4b1qVvwD9uPz3hOX7kp2~~4H0LzL3cMIOJIGpClarV5G4N8uIc2Tz8d3Hav-guZ62Jc64un84XMEY0NdjqejII3sOi1qoZPwDnJsaDDXpSuLX1Za0TQO7fNHZ1hpkzfvcig5wNcyt9SgwpIoi8oK8ROSXBYlLL4EEGpWXcZ3y2~BWBGTXCPN-Ihi67FNEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Colonial School District Board of Education voted 6–1 on July 8 to set a 7% increase to the district’s operating tax request for fiscal year 2026, citing uncertain collections tied to New Castle County’s reassessment process and potential federal grant shortfalls.

The motion to set a 7% increase was made by board member Christine Smith and seconded by Philip Breeding; the roll call concluded with one “no” vote by Robert Law and the motion carried 6–1.

Chief Operating and Financial Officer Emily Falcon briefed the board on data that continued to change as New Castle County finished reassessment files. Falcon said county corrections reduced the district’s assessed base from earlier estimates and that condominiums and exemption adjustments had been fixed. She also described the appeals data and the assumptions she used to estimate revenue at risk: “Of the data that I got from the county ... 826 parcels requested an appeal. Over 500 of those parcels did not have a requested value,” Falcon said, and she explained she applied a 34% average reduction to unknown parcels to model risk.

Falcon presented a range of potential revenue impacts. Using her assumptions, she estimated the district’s potential annual revenue loss from reassessment appeals could range from roughly $2.7 million (on her mid‑estimate) to as much as $8.2 million in an extreme scenario. Falcon also warned that the federal government’s decision to withhold a portion of Title II, III and IV grants put about $1.3 million of expected federal funding at risk for FY26 and that delays or reversions at the federal level could further complicate planning.

The board discussed options for the operating rate, laid out in Falcon’s briefing as revenue neutral or adds of 3%, 7% or 10% above the revenue neutral baseline. Board members debating the motion cited uncertainty in appeals, the need to protect classroom and staff positions, and the limit in the code that allows a board to increase the operating portion up to 10% above prior year collections after a reassessment reset.

Board president Ted (facilitating) asked for members’ direction on balancing taxpayer impacts against fiscal stability. Several members said they wanted to minimize harm to programs and staff if appeals or federal funding shortfalls materialized; others stressed public messaging and the limitations of the county’s data. Falcon noted a schedule constraint: “If I don't get them a rate by Thursday at 08:00, it'll go the bill will go out with our old rate,” underscoring the administrative deadline for Newcastle County billing.

Motion details and outcome: motion by Christine Smith, seconded by Philip Breeding; recorded roll call votes (Handy: yes; Breeding: yes; Smith: yes; Law: no; Dorsey: yes; Crossen: yes; + one additional yes) produced a 6–1 majority and the board approved the 7% operating increase. The board also confirmed the related debt, match and tuition tax components Falcon included in the total rate calculation.

Ending: The board directed staff to continue monitoring appeals, collections and federal grant discussions and to present detailed budget materials at the next meeting.","After a lengthy discussion of county reassessment data, appealed parcels and a potential $1.3 million federal grant shortfall, the Colonial School Board voted 6–1 on July 8 to set a 7% operating increase for fiscal 2026.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6024500,"Colonial officials say 318 students identified as homeless and cite transportation, shelter limits for attendance gaps",1919,1708000,3627000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2&start=1708&end=3627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5760299-bafa327d0e249edef98efe3a5f1b33c2/thumbnail_1708000.jpg","/articles/6024500/Delaware/Colonial-officials-say-318-students-identified-as-homeless-and-cite-transportation-shelter-limits-for-attendance-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024500-8c18fbfbf76ba53ab3f2484403237b26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672961&Signature=hRn5Mx9kzmUuw9Je1UaXbt3pWbbKYfm53cKnYcTAvARMWoxPlCdYmsLD3K1n~3Jf4bqeMnBb2N0AFi5Gp~o5G6TLQQBrFdQSe9HVXEB~CN5lX-UPkWPveMfArYooX3mXB3fkzSkkqRNVfkOUKn4ZGltMI9O1sCKgD0ggn1JQowuTU4pVVEw3aVAkHC1ESowhajGha-E0sTA7bC7R3nKsmBMmc6sMxS21sHH2FsdS-hPJfkMlKk2XV6-QP6yiaw6vL4qkPn34-6CDJfAcrgzgnPQhLM2OWSEshMfYlxXQHM6TwD8vynZuD0jjA1-zl1upLiws8jJ5aDsJCo8lsnVZgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 8 Colonial School District Board of Education meeting, district staff reported that 318 students were identified as McKinney‑Vento eligible this school year and described persistent transportation and housing barriers that contribute to chronic absenteeism.

District visiting teacher and homeless coordinator Ed Stefan told the board the district “has over 15 hotels that accept housing vouchers” and said motels and short‑term voucher rules create repeated displacements. “The issue specifically with all the motels, the vouchers are usually a 2 week voucher,” Stefan said. “After that, depending on your situation, you may get an extension, you may not.”

The board heard that the Hope Center, a shelter referenced by staff, has roughly 467 beds and that the opening of that facility increased student homelessness at its feeder schools. Stefan said the Hope Center’s opening in the district “was a huge increase for specifically Castle Hills and George Reed whose homeless numbers tripled after the open end of the Hope Center.”

Transportation logistics were a central focus. Miles Camacho, the district transportation contact described the vendor bidding process used to assign vans and private carriers: schools submit locations, vendors report availability and the district typically requires 24–72 business hours to begin service. “Minimal, you're typically at least 48 hours, sometimes as many as 72 business hours,” Camacho said. Staff and the board said capacity—whether a vendor has open seats—often determines how quickly a student gets picked up after a move.

Staff explained how attendance codes interact with these barriers. Ed Stefan said displaced students awaiting routed transportation are placed on excused absences while the district establishes service. Board members were told chronic absence is measured by missed days of instruction and that 18 days is a common threshold for intervention; staff said many chronically absent students are also homeless because repeated moves disrupt transportation and school connection.

Board members and staff detailed supports the district uses: onsite registration and transportation setup, partnerships to supply clothing and shoes (staff cited donated coats and “Shoes that Fit” contributions), and Communities in Schools staff in buildings to coordinate help. Stefan described the first steps: “I typically start with helping schools get them registered and transportation set up.”

Board members asked for district comparisons and additional state data. Staff said statewide reporting varies and that local service center tools can produce the district’s attendance and homeless counts quickly; the board asked staff to compile comparative numbers for other nearby districts and to return with updated active truancy/case lists.

The board did not take formal action on the report; members requested follow‑up data and reaffirmed continued support for Communities in Schools and transportation planning.

Ending: Board members praised the district staff working on homelessness and attendance and asked that the follow‑up comparative data be circulated to the board before the next meeting.","At the July 8 Colonial School District Board meeting, staff reported 318 students identified under McKinney‑Vento and described short motel vouchers, limited shelter capacity and transportation bidding delays as drivers of chronic absenteeism.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves schematic design for William Penn roof replacement as part of capital projects

Board approves intent to terminate one employee after executive session

Colonial board completes officer elections, assigns DSBA and legislative representatives

Colonial board sets FY26 tax rate increase at 7% after debate over reassessment appeals and federal grant risk

Colonial officials say 318 students identified as homeless and cite transportation, shelter limits for attendance gaps