Laurel School District board approves personnel actions, 2025–26 calendar and stadium use for student "New Life" event

Laurel, DE — The Laurel School District Board of Education on Wednesday approved a slate of personnel recommendations following executive session, adopted the 2025–26 school calendar and granted a Laurel High School senior permission to hold an outdoor youth revival at the stadium on May 17.

Melanie Reyes, a senior at Laurel High School, presented the proposal for an outdoor "New Life" youth revival open to the public on Saturday, May 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. She described an agenda of worship, testimony and an altar call, said volunteers and churches had donated Bibles and materials, and asked the board to waive typical facility and custodial fees. "Our main focus is to help students find a hope through Jesus Christ," Reyes told the board, describing the group's work with students and community partners.

The board voted to approve Reyes' request to use the stadium and athletic field and approved a recommendation to waive facility, custodial and technology fees while applying a constable fee. The motion was firsted by Mrs. Isler and seconded by Mr. Nichols and passed by roll call with recorded approvals from the board members present.

The meeting included recognition of 15 staff-of-the-year honorees from the district's five schools and a series of CTSO (career and technical student organization) presentations. The district speaker praised the honorees, saying, "They don't just do the job. They do the job with heart," and asked the audience to join in applause for staff and students.

Board members also approved the May 1 financial position report, with materials included in board packets. A staff member summarized the finance update, noting the district is processing its FY26 estimated unit count, a quarterly bond bill report is due next week, and ESSER reporting is no longer required. The board approved the financial report on a roll-call vote.

A second reading of the 2025–26 school calendar was held and approved; the superintendent advised the calendar is posted on the district website and available for public review. The board separately approved school choice items and multiple grouped fundraiser requests.

Following executive session, the board took up multiple personnel attachments labeled A through J and approved the recommended professional, support and administrative hires and changes. Most attachments passed on roll call. The record shows a small number of recorded disapprovals: for Attachment D one member recorded a disapproval, and for Attachment E two members recorded disapprovals; the motions nonetheless carried.

The board set its next regular meeting for Wednesday, May 7 at 7 p.m. in the Laurel Middle High School cafeteria and adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Details from the meeting packet -- including the personnel attachments, the financial position report and the adopted 2025—026 calendar -- are available on the Laurel School District website.