The race is on to drum up enough support to overhaul Wilmington’s school district lines in Dover.
State lawmakers and the governor’s office introduced a resolution Thursday supporting the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission’s (WEIC) plan to alter school district boundaries in Delaware’s largest city.
The plan has garnered fierce controversy from all ends of the political spectrum, with the State Board of Education initially wary to endorse the plan at all earlier this year, leading to a contentious 4-3 vote in favor of it in March.
One of the key hang ups amounts to what body has the authority to halt implementation should funding not come through, which caused the proposal to ping pong between the commission and the state board. Ultimately, a compromise brokered by Gov. Jack Markell putting the decision in the hands of WEIC was approved by the State Board of Education.
The plan would remove the Christina School district from Wilmington, handing over most of the area to the Red Clay School District in the 2018-19 school year.
One of the biggest points of contention is a boost in state funding going toward city schools with high percentages of low-income students or English language learners.
Lawmakers from more rural areas have long cried foul over such a funding system unless it applies statewide – as school districts they represent also boast high poverty rates that could benefit from an injection of cash.
Gov. Jack Markell (D) set aside $6 million in his proposed budget to cover the added cost, though House Education Committee Chair Rep. Earl Jaques (D-Glasgow) says he expects that figure to at least double to win enough votes.
The resolution will head to that committee first for debate.
