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Board hears DSBA legislative briefing on proposed school funding, local tax changes and mentor background checks
Summary
The Colonial School Board received a legislative update from DSBA committee representatives on Senate Bills 302 and 303 (a proposed hybrid school funding model), Senate Bill 322 (local tax adjustments after reassessments), and House Bill 443 (background checks for mentors). The board discussed likely local impacts but took no formal votes on the state bills.
The Colonial School Board on June 9 heard a detailed update from the Delaware School Boards Association legislative committee about pending state education bills and potential local impacts. Dr. Dorsy briefed the board on SB 302 and SB 303, SB 322 and HB 443.
Dr. Dorsy told the board the DSBA legislative committee voted unanimously to support Senate Bills 302 and 303, which recommend a hybrid funding model for Delaware public schools that the public education funding committee favors. "The goal of this is a hybrid model to make sure that school funding is fair and more flexible, allowing schools to better meet student needs and improve academic outcomes," she said, and emphasized that the bills include transition protections so no school would receive less state funding in 2028 than in 2027.
The committee also reviewed Senate Bill 322, which would change how districts adjust local property taxes after property value reassessments. Dr. Dorsy said the bill would permit certain limited 2% yearly local tax increases without a referendum under defined circumstances while also limiting the total additional revenue available after reassessment; the DSBA legislative committee supported SB 322 by a 7–3 vote.
On House Bill 443, Dr. Dorsy described requirements for state and federal criminal background checks for mentors participating in Department of Education mentoring programs and noted work to secure funding so volunteers would not be charged the roughly $85 background-check fee. "This is mostly to protect our students — we want to make sure that volunteers can serve without financial burden while keeping our students safe," she said.
Board members discussed the bills’ possible local effects but did not take formal board positions on the state legislation during the meeting. Mr. Handy said his group had shifted to a neutral vote on SB 322 after hearing concerns from downstate members about future growth and referendum implications. Jeff, reporting for the chiefs, noted that members have been involved in conversations about project impacts and cited about a 10–15% potential cost increase tied to a separate construction-related bill under discussion at the state level.
The briefing was presented as informational. The board’s formal actions later in the meeting addressed district-specific matters rather than adopting formal positions on these state bills.
The board’s next legislative-related steps were not scheduled at the meeting; members said they would continue to monitor state committee activity and upcoming budget proposals.
