Board approves calendars, ESSER filings and consent items; public commenter raises meal-funding and DEI concerns; committee flags proposed law on member removal

At its Feb. 18, 2025 meeting, the Colonial School Board approved the meeting agenda and a package of routine consent items, filed required notices related to federal ESSER funds, and adopted the 2025–26 school calendar, the 2025–26 board meeting calendar and the 2025–26 holiday schedule for employees.

The agenda was approved after a motion by Mister Laws and a second from Mister Crossley. The consent agenda was approved on a motion by Mister Handy, seconded by Mister Crossen. Board members approved the items; no roll-call tallies were recorded.

On ESSER filings, staff asked the board to approve submission of notices of federal interest to the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds for ESSER-funded renovations, including roofing and HVAC enhancements. Mister Laws moved the submission and Mister Crosson seconded; the board approved the paperwork.

The board approved three calendar items in separate motions: the 2025–26 school year calendar (moved by Mister Cross and seconded by Doctor Dorsey), the 2025–26 board meeting calendar (moved by Mister Crossen and seconded by Mister Handy) and the 2025–26 holiday schedule for employees (moved by Mister Clausen and seconded by Doctor Dorsey). Staff said the calendars and schedules are still in draft form for distribution to families and that finalized materials will be shared after submission to the state department of education by April 30.

Public comment: Alyssa Wesley, a community member, used her allotted three minutes to raise concerns about the future of federal meal programs and the district's recent removal of DEI: "I am nervous about the state of the funding that will be coming towards us for the lack of funding," Wesley said. She asked whether the district has a contingency plan if free lunch and free breakfast programs change and asked how community members can assist. A district representative said board members and staff have been receiving similar questions and that staff would determine the appropriate person to contact Wesley with follow-up information.

Legislative committee discussion: Board members discussed recent and proposed state education bills. A board member characterized one proposed measure regarding competence and removal of school board members as "carte blanche," saying it would give the state school board broad authority to remove members without clear standards. The board member also expressed concern about added mandated training, noting the district already complies with certain training requirements and that additional mandates could limit locally chosen activities.

Votes at a glance (motions approved without recorded roll-call tallies): agenda approval; consent agenda; contract award for PJL (covered in separate article); submission of notice of federal interest for ESSER-funded renovations; approval of 2025–26 school calendar; approval of 2025–26 board meeting calendar; reaffirmation of 2025–26 holiday schedule for employees; waiving readings and reinstating policy 110 for Title IX (covered in separate article); motion to adjourn.

All motions listed above were approved in the meeting; the transcript records voice votes and "aye" responses rather than roll-call counts.