By Mike McClure

The Delmar School District will hold a referendum next year. What remains to be seen is when it will take place and whether it will be to build a new intermediate school to alleviate crowding in the middle/high school or for operational expense to meet the district’s rising costs.

The Delmar School Board held its first workshop on Thursday, Sept. 18 to discuss a potential referendum. The district’s last referendum came in 2015, but it has experienced a lot of growth since then.

R.O.A.R. Employee of the Month- Danielle Youngblood was presented with award by Delmar Middle School Principal Kevin Moreland and Delmar High School Principal Matt Marine (not pictured) during September Delmar School Board meeting

The district will find out later this month whether the state has approved the certificate of necessity to fund the construction of a new school. The state did not approve any CNS last year, including those filed by Delmar and Laurel.

If the CN is not approved, the district will hold a referendum for opperating expenses. The workshop was the first of several planned meetings, though the next one will not take place until the state makes a decision on the CN.

The district has developed a strategic plan, which the board will vote on later this month. Included in the plan is the establishment of a district vision, mission, and goals, among other things.

During the workstop, the board discussed potential pushback on the referendum.

“What are our Delmar residents willing to give up a day to support our students?” Delmar Superintdent Dr. Andy O’Neal asked.

Chief Operating Officer Monet Smith reported that the unit counting has gone up 14 percent since 2018, causing an increase in the school’s number of staff members. Staff pay has also gone up in that time as the district competes with neighboring districts for teachers.

As for the middle/high school’s capacity, “We are busting at the seams,” said Smith.

Some of the school’s teachers are without classrooms and have to go room to room with carts. The district is talking about using the board room as a class room,

The district has seen increased operating costs for technology, safety and security, curriculum replacement. If the CN is not approved, there may be a need to consider modular class rooms (trailers) though  it is unclear where they would be located. They would need to be near the school for security and so kids could get to the cafeteria, gym, and bathrooms. The district may need to bring in three to five of these units.

Even if the CN, and the major capital referendum, is passed, it will take 4-5 years to build the new school and move in. The new school would also require a new principal and vice principal/dean of students, nurse, secretary/administrative assistant, and teachers as well as additional custodian, transportation, outdoor grounds and maintenance, and security costs.

The Laurel and Caesar Rodney school districts are also looking to get CNs from the state and go to referendum.

Next step for Delmar, once it hears back from the state, is to prioritize what it needs to have to address its issues.