State Board of Education members say they’re hesitant to sign off on a plan to redistrict the City of Wilmington when it has no price tag.
Board members grilled the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission over just how much it’s going to cost to put an end to the city’s hodgepodge education plan borne out of years of bussing students to suburban schools.
No clear answer came. Board member Patrick Heffernan says it’s a significant factor he has to consider before giving it his approval.
“The money is outside of our purview, but they’re asking us to say, ‘Is this a good plan? Will this plan work?’ and they’re very insistent that it’s thumbs or thumbs down. You take it or leave it as it is. We have to see can this work and I think money is tied very closely to that.”
The plan currently removes Christina School District completely from Wilmington, with Red Clay taking over those areas effective July 2018.
It also includes a method of funding high-poverty schools, though it wouldn’t be fully implemented until fiscal year 2019.
State Board of Education members will vote on the plan in January and it will also need legislative approval to move forward.
