Delmar School Board hears from community, architects report on certificate of necessity

Delmar community members came out in support of Delmar baseball head coach and teacher Jordan Johnson at last Tuesday’s Delmar School Board meeting. The board was also updated on the certificate of necessity application to the state.

Johnson was recently terminated by the Delmar School District for attending an off site, private graduation party where alcohol was served. He appeared in a photo on social media at the party.

Former Delmar varsity baseball head coach and athletic director David Hearn told the board he had many questions. “Does this mean the end of staff attending celebrations?” he asked at the end of his presentation.

Shown following the approval of the ratification of the Delaware Education Association contract are Superintendent Dr. Andy O’Neal, Alan Preston and Donna Nesbitt of DEA, and board president Raymond Vincent.

Hearn praised Johnson, a Delmar alumnus and multiple sport athlete and coach who has 15 years of coaching experience. 

“I was lucky enough to coach him and he was a good one,” said Hearn. 

Hearn stepped down as the Wildcats’ baseball coach after 29 years, leaving the program in the hands of someone he could trust, Johnson.

“Jordan Johnson made my decision to step away an easy one,” he said.

Earlier in the public comment session, Ashley Peugh, Johnson’s sister and a 2004 Delmar graduate, spoke. She made it clear that she does not condone underage drinking but called the termination for a first offense extreme.

Johnson was fired for immorality and not being a role model under the Delmar staff alcohol and drug policy. Peugh said the same policy allows staff members to be in school with a .02 blood alcohol level three times or a .08 blood alcohol level twice before termination. Johnson, who was not on school property and attended the gathering outside school hours, did not receive a warning. Peugh added that other staff members were also in attendance that evening but were not terminated.

“Why was Jordan Johnson individually targeted?” asked Peugh. “He is dedicated to your school because he loves this school. Sadly it is your students that will suffer from this the most.”

A certificate of election was presented for Raymond Vincent, who was re-elected to a four-year term, which will run through 2029. The board also held its organization for the 2025-26 school year. The following are the positions for year: President- Vincent; Vice President- Shane Bowden; Executive Secretary- Superintendent Dr. Andy O’Neal; Committees- Contractual negotiations- Dawn Litchford, alternate- Bowden; Administrative interviews- Bowden and Vincent; Teacher of the Year- Russell Smart; Liaison/Wicomico County- Litchford; and Referendum Steering Committee- Vincent and Smart.

Brad Hastings of Becker Morgan spoke about the district’s certificate of necessity, which he said is the same as last year’s certificate of necessity. The certificate, and all others in the state, was not approved.

Hastings reports that the current school was built in 2000 and had 950 students. In 2008, the student population was 1,184 students. He also said that the school’s alarm system is on its final leg and replacement parts for it are no longer made. T he total cost for replacement and system upgrades is estimated at over $1 million.

House Bill 49 also requires the following to be done at the school: new entry vestibule, panic button or intruder alert system, and upgrade on classroom doors. Also part of the certificate of necessity are: New construction of intermediate school on Old Stage Road ($42 million); student services area to be located where district office is ($432,000), new district office ($3,2 million) for a total cost of $49,557,300.

Chief Operating Officer Monet Smith said the schools at 120-130 percent of its original capacity. Construction is expected to take four or five years after certificate of necessity approval and a successful referendum.

Hastings said it would take a year of design, after the referendum, then construction would take place. The renovations would take two years. “It’s a long process,” he said.

Following an executive session, the board approved filing the certificate of necessity with the state.

The board approved the ratification of Delaware Education Association (DEA) contract and the ratification of Memorandum of Understanding between Delmar School District Board of Education and the DEA regarding a teacher incentive pay structure pilot program for high academic performance state standardized assessments.