Gov. John Carney (D-Delaware) proposes spending $50 million dollars to build a new state of the art school on Wilmington’s East Side, and help fund other city schools currently in the Christina School District.
“In the words of my Senate President Pro Tem, $50 million is no small chunk of change, and I'm thrilled to see these schools finally getting the attention that they deserve," said State Senator Elizabeth Lockman (D-Wilmington).
Lockman supports Carney’s planned investment to replace The Bancroft School and fund extensive renovations at The Bayard School, and Stubbs Early Education Center.
The three facilities are in their first school year of a new alignment, with Bayard and Bancroft now housing first through eighth grades, while Stubbs serves pre-K and kindergarten students in Wilmington. Stubbs is also home to a new Duel Generation Center.
The new alignment was part of the Wilmington Schools Partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding between the state and the Christina School District signed in March 2018 to transform Christina’s schools in the city of Wilmington. Pulaski and Elbert-Palmer elementary schools closed as part of changes.
Carney outlined his latest funding plan for the schools Wednesday at the Stubbs Early Education Center.
"We will include $50 million to add to the $20 or so odd million that's already been appropriated to redo this building, update this building, build a new school here on the East Side - that's the most important and the biggest decision that we've had to make - and to recapitalize Bayard on the West Side," said Carney.
In pitching his plan, Carney reiterated his belief the state needs Wilmington to thrive.
"If our state is going to be successful and I don't know how many times I have to say it, the city of Wilmington has to be successful and if the city is going to be successful it could only be successful if the schools in the city are successful," Carney said.
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki (D) also backs the governor’s plans for city schools.
"We're really thrilled about the prospects for the future of the investment that the governor's dedicating to our city. We want to be worthy of that and continue to support this project in every way," said Purzycki.
Carney delivers his State of the State address Thursday and presents this budget plan to the General Assembly next week.
