School is back in session and things are going great, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Barbara Wheeler. “It was one of the finest openings we’ve had considering the upheaval we had regarding consolidation, which I still fervently believe was the best decision we could make for our children,” she said.
Wheeler, along with Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Fay Miller, attended the commissioners meeting last week to give an update on everything from budget adjustments to the Board of Education’s relocation. It is not just the eight schools that were involved in the consolidation that are doing well. Wheeler said the climate at the high school was exceptional.
Commissioner Ron Fithian said he has had two individuals who were very vocal critics of the consolidation come up to him and admit they were wrong. Wheeler said one of the biggest lessons she learned from the consolidation was the need to communicate better with the community and parents and encouraged the commissioners to visit KCMS to see the courses that have been added.
Progress continues to be made on the relocation of the Board of Education office to what was Rock Hall Elementary School. Miller said the School Board approved the bid from Harper & Sons of Easton for $277,800 to create office space in the old school building. All the black boards, white boards, cabinets, playground, and kitchen equipment have been moved to other schools. Anything that was bought by the RHES PTA for students or teachers was moved with them to their new building. The contractor hopes to have all the work done by November 1, and the move of the Board of Education office will begin the same day.
Things are moving forward with the alternative school’s relocation as well. The modular classrooms should be in place and ready for students by the end of September, Miller said. The classrooms will go next to the tennis courts at Kent County High School.
The commissioners approved two adjustments to the Kent County Public School budget. The school system received a $21,000 reimbursement for the winter snow storms, which was added back into the budget. It also received a grant increase of $196,000, making the grant total $3,868,644.
Tuesday was Miller’s last day as a Kent County Public School employee. Miller’s replacement, Dexter Lockamy, will start October 3. Lockamy lives in Baltimore and has worked with the Washington D.C. public school system as a consultant.