The Brandywine School District is beginning work to build support for its second try at passing a tax referendum this May.
A packed room of concerned teachers, parents and others gathered at Mount Pleasant Elementary school Monday night to discuss voter outreach efforts.
The group was invited to share ideas. Maribeth Baxter, a parent of a Carrcroft Elementary student, says she’ll reach out to at least 10 members of the community to make sure they know the key points of the referendum and then ask them to do the same.
"Mr. Mark Overly of Carrcroft asked me to come," Baxter said. He knows I’m a very supportive member of the community and knows I will have a positive impact. Obviously they want the referendum to pass, and he knows I will do whatever it takes to get it passed."
Baxter is also passionate about the issue because she still remembers when a referendum in her school as a child failed and her favorite intramural sport of basketball was taken away. She doesn't want the kids of the Brandywine School District to feel the same way she did.
A fact sheet – with frequently asked questions - was handed out during the meeting. It addressed how rising costs have contributed to a deficit, why school polling hours can’t start before 10 a.m., why the tax hike requested is 28 cents and more.
Brandywine Superintendent Mark Holodick also explained the basics of Delaware’s school funding system and why the referendum is needed.
He says he hopes it’s not necessary to make any of the 8 million dollars in cuts his executive team hashed out last week: a list includes the IB, STEM, and Gifted Programs, as wells as interventionists, psychologists, reading specialists.
“They recognize that these impact children. Making these recommendations to me is difficult, so there will be more meetings this week," Holodick said.
Holodick mentioned robo calls made two days before the referendum aimed at targeted populations based on age and political affiliation. He says the information in those calls was incorrect.
“I respect any organization’s right to communicate their opinion but I just hope the information is accurate and not misleading in any way," Holodick said.
Holodick hopes to counter any misinformation by distributing FAQ sheets, putting up yard signs and sending out a voter guide to all district residents
But his primary goal is increasing a turnout: finding more “yes” voters rather than converting “no” votes.
Another planning meeting will be scheduled once yard signs are ready. The first of four town hall meetings is set for April 21st at 7 p.m. at Claymont Elementary School.
