Let me start off my report with some really great news: While our bill in the General Assembly for our middle school construction project did not pass this season, we will still however be receiving more state support for our project. Toward the very end, the General Assembly did issue an extra $150,000 for the July 1st budget to directly support any maintenance needs for our current middle school facility for next year because we drove home the point of how expensive it is to keep our aging facility up and moving.

 

The General Assembly put in a pre-authorization for $4 million in the FY27 budget and an additional $4 million for FY28 on top of what they would already normally fund for our project. Let me clarify, "pre-authorization" is the General assembly indicating to the governor what they want to see happen. It is ultimately for the governor to do that or to not do that. We of course will continue to champion with the elected officials and the governor's office the urgent need around the additional financial support for the new middle school facility.

 

While we didn't walk away with exactly what we went in asking for, we did not walk away emptyhanded either. And I think the fact that the entire General Assembly pre-authorized an extra $8 million is something to be hopeful about. Fear not, we will not rest. We will continue to move forward on that.

 

I will bring forward in June a more detailed update on our middle school project and we will be scheduling community meetings so people can see where the architectural design is. We're in the process of getting that set up. The IAC, which is the state agency that helps oversee school construction projects and helps determine the amount of state funding, has a meeting in May. Once that meeting's over I think it will be a good time to put things in print in a presentation for you. That is our good news around the middle school.

 

I also want to take a moment to especially thank Del. Jeff Ghrist for his tremendous leadership in our effort. He was really the strongest champion, and Sen. Stephen S. Hershey Jr. as well. They expanded their strategy this year and both of them were relentless in this effort. I would be remiss without thanking them.

 

I also want to thank our commissioners who went over and testified as well as our board members. We had more than 750 people sign a letter of testimony that went to the General Assembly. It takes a village to get this accomplished. When we asked, people came forward and put out the effort. The community support for our middle school project is strong, thriving and continuing to grow.

 

This Wednesday evening will be our annual big Kent County Public Schools awards celebration. We will be honoring Teachers of the Year from each of our school buildings and recognizing top performers.

 

This year's honorees for each building are:

 

At Galena Elementary School:

Rebeka Wooters, Teacher of the Year

Amanda Jackson, Support Employee of the Year, and

Abigail Saxton, Promising Educator

 

At H.H. Garnet Elementary School:

Kathleen Devine, Teacher of the Year

Regina Jones, Support Employee of the Year, and

Madison Kendall, Promising Educator

 

At Rock Hall Elementary School:

Drew Walters, Teacher of the Year

Maria Gordillo-Terreros, Support Employee of the Year, and

Breanna Reardon, Promising Educator

 

At Kent County Middle School:

Cheryl Fracassi, Teacher of the Year, and

B.T. King, Support Employee of the Year

 

At Kent County High School:

Johanna Cohen, Teacher of the Year

Ralph Johnson, Support Employee of the Year

Gabriella Crisham, Promising Educator, and

Patrick McColigan, Promising Educator

 

At the Central Office:

Mirelle Kraus, Support Employee of the Year.

 

Every one of these individuals are an integral part of our schools and we appreciate everything they do. So come out to the high school this Wednesday at 5:30, when we'll announce the Kent County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, the Support Employee of the Year and the Promising Educator Award winner from those finalists.

 

Lastly, our students and staff will be taking a much-deserved Spring Break starting this Thursday. We hope everyone enjoys time with their families —I know I'm looking forward to it and getting the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate before come back into the classroom on Tuesday, April 22. For our seniors, they really are beginning their final countdown to their time at Kent County Public Schools!