Delaware City Schools opens year with focus on literacy hub, safety training and enrollment near projections

Superintendent Keith Pomeroy and district staff told the Delaware City Schools Board of Education on Aug. 18 that the new school year opened smoothly and that the district is concentrating on literacy supports, safety training and operational readiness.

Pomeroy described a wide set of professional development activities held before the first day of classes, including “pacer periods” intended to close achievement gaps, an elementary literacy decision tool developed by Sam Forrester and grade-level planning for math and standards-based learning at the secondary level. “It’s been a great start to the school year. I have felt incredibly welcomed by the entire community,” Pomeroy said.

Highlights and why they matter: staff said the literacy hub collects assessments, progress-monitoring steps and resources in one place so teachers can more consistently identify students who are on-, above- or off-track and plan interventions. The district also reported the addition of instructional supports such as a district literacy instructional coach, new professional development for all-grade levels and technology resources for performing arts teachers.

Special education staff described targeted training for educational assistants, new administrative guidelines for 504 case management and early-career administrator training so new staff have a uniform starting point. The preschool supervisor shared work to establish shared values, culture and expectations for preschool classrooms housed in elementary buildings.

Safety and operations: staff said the district continued Verkada security training across administrative, technology and facilities teams. Facilities and transportation staff reported paving work completed at the bus garage and installation of mirror-station pavement markings to improve bus-driver mirror adjustment. Jason Sherman (staff) said paving work was completed in time for in-service and that he checked for water-pooling after the first rain.

Transportation staffing: Sherman said the district is short on bus drivers and currently has four open routes; he recommended adding roughly five to six drivers to return to prior coverage levels. "We currently have 4 open routes, and we could use as many extras as we can get," Sherman told the board. The district said no buses were over capacity but some routes had more students than usual until additional drivers are hired.

Enrollment and funding: Treasurer Jill Corwin reported 5,469 students enrolled as of Aug. 15. The board was told 202 students had registered for homeschooling so far this season and the district expects that number to rise to about 300 by late August. The district reviewed use of Student Success and Wellness funds and Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA), saying funds will again support elementary nurses, a preschool nurse, prevention and mental-health partnerships with the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health & Recovery Board, juvenile court liaisons and literacy coaching.

Public comment: Resident Kyle Henry raised ongoing lighting issues in Dempsey’s main gym and requested that any repair work be scheduled to minimize disruption to athletics events.

Votes at a glance: the board approved routine items on the consent agenda, the May and June financial reports, and authorized participation in the 2025–26 META bus purchasing program (a purchasing consortium). Those votes were recorded by roll call as unanimous where noted.

Looking ahead: staff said they will continue to monitor enrollment changes through the start of school, recruit bus drivers and phase remaining safety and technology work across buildings.