The state’s controversial Priority Schools Initiative faced opposition at a meeting in the Red Clay School District Tuesday night, but district officials there are seeking some middle ground.
As part of the discussion whether the district should agree to place three underperforming Wilmington schools under the state’s program Superintendent Merv Daugherty presented board members with a counter Memorandum of Understanding, which he hopes they’ll agree to sign when they vote at their regular meeting October 15th.
Signing the MOU is the first step in implementing the state’s Priority Schools Initiative at Warner Elementary, Shortlidge Academy and Highlands Elementary in Red Clay.
Under the plan, each school would receive about a million dollars over the next 4 years if certain benchmarks are met. But some board members, like Faith Newton, question how much good that money could do.
“There’s about $200,000 per year, per school. We’re not even talking with benefits two full teachers, I can tell you that right now,” Newton said.
The initiative includes hiring new “student leaders” for each school and requiring teachers to reapply for their jobs. Red Clay school board president Kenny Rivera says those and other provisions represent a “state takeover.”
“They’re saying you have to sign this or else.,” said Rivera. "This isn’t a memorandum of understanding. If anything, I call it a memorandum of ultimatum.”
Rivera added that the Board was dancing with a partner he “didn’t trust.”
Daugherty argued failing to signing the counter MOU would put the district in a much tougher position. A ‘no’ vote would leave Red Clay three choices: turn the failing schools into charters, turn over school administration to a private company or close the schools.
