Delaware
Another Delaware school system is bringing security systems to football: Education roundup
That’s it. No more summer days away from school.
After a long Labor Day weekend, maybe on the beach or maybe spent preparing for the classroom, another chunk of Delaware students are back in session. With that said, some teachers in your area may still be looking for more resources for their classes through online wishlists.
With students returning, that means heightened security for some school districts.
Cape Henlopen just announced weapons detection systems for football games, a move mirrored by Appoquinimink and Sussex Technical schools. Seaford School District not only has such a system, but is testing its first year of requiring clear backpacks for students from sixth grade through high school.
In this weekly roundup, we’ll catch you up on these and other education updates you may have missed.
[Did we miss another good education story? Tell me about it: kepowers@gannett.com.]
Another Delaware school system brings security systems to football games
Starting with a home football game Sept. 20, Cape Henlopen School District will be launching a weapons detection system.
That system, called EVOLV, will help identify any potential weapons like guns and knives that could be entering the Cape Henlopen High School’s stadium, according to the district. This joins the school resource officer, constables and other Delaware State Police officers at each football game.
In an email to family and staff, the district explained what to expect:
- Two lines of spectators can walk through the system at once.
- If an alert is identified, an administrator will stop the line and review the images, while the spectator is asked to step aside and to remove the alerted item.
- If the alert is dismissed as a non-threat, the item will be tagged and the spectator will continue into the stadium.
- If the person refuses to openly identify the possible threat, a search will be required.
- If the search is refused, the spectator will be asked to leave the premises.
- If the alert is identified and found to be a threat, the police will “take the appropriate next steps,” per the school district.
- In cases of a health or safety concern – say, an implanted device or pregnancy – an alternative screening approach may be performed using a hand-held wand.
- Once the alert is identified and tagged, the line will resume.
“The safety of our students, staff and community members during attendance of our events is of the utmost importance to us, so please be patient as these new safety measures are implemented,” the district wrote. “And you may see longer wait times in line than expected.”
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Delaware Technical to show off its new Healthcare Center of Excellence building in Dover
Delaware Technical Community College is cutting the ribbon on its newly renovated Highmark Healthcare Center of Excellence on Tuesday morning.
The $3.4 million project includes $1 million from Highmark Delaware’s “BluePrints for the Community” grant program, according to a press release from DelTech. And now, the new center will look to support Delaware’s health care industry by training students for jobs in the sector.
With final touches finished this year, all 8.700 square feet will see classrooms, labs and other collaborative spaces. This will host training for short-term certification programs, such as certified nursing assistants, EKG technicians, community health workers, patient care technicians and more.
The center will be at 100 Campus Drive, on the Terry Campus in Dover. A ribbon cutting is set for 11 a.m., Sept. 3.
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Indian River School District announces adult education offerings for the fall
Indian River School District announced its course offerings in adult education for this fall, with programs for both youth and adults. Course dates, times and costs can be found online, per the district, where participants can also register and pay.
At a glance:
- Youth Safe Sitter Course – Oct. 16 to 17 at Indian River High School Library
- Youth Co-Ed Beginner’s Volleyball Academy – Grades three to six, Tuesdays from Sept. 17 to Oct. 29 at Southern Delaware School of the Arts gym.
- Youth Co-Ed Intermediate’s Volleyball Academy – Grades five to eight, Tuesdays from Sept. 17 to Oct. 29 at Southern Delaware School of the Arts gym.
- Youth Outdoor Boys Lacrosse Clinic – Grades five to eight, Mondays from Sept. 16 to Oct. 21 at Indian River High School.
- Youth Co-Ed Basketball Clinic by Factory Sports – Separate clinics for Grades 2-5 and Grades 6-8, Tuesdays from Sept. 17 to Oct. 15 at Millsboro Middle School gym.
- Adult Dance Exercise Class – Two sessions, Mondays at East Millsboro Elementary School and Thursdays at Lord Baltimore Elementary School through December.
- Adult Yoga Class – Thursdays from Sept. 12 to Dec. 5 at East Millsboro Elementary School gym.
- Adult Co-Ed Volleyball – Wednesdays from Sept. 11 to Dec. 11 at Millsboro Middle School gym.
- Adult Financial Planning Workshop Seminars – Multiple free sessions in September and October at Millsboro Middle School.
- Adult Health Planning Workshop Seminar – Two free sessions, Nov. 19 at Millsboro Middle School and Nov. 20 at Lord Baltimore Elementary School.
For more information about any of these courses, the district told community members to contact Matt Schifano at 302-436-1000 or via email.
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Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01.
Pennrose and JPMorganChase help neighborhoods – and residents – thrive.
Finding an affordable place to live continues to be a challenge for many as widespread housing shortages persist across the U.S. Rising home prices and high interest rates have made homeownership inaccessible for a large portion of the population. Meanwhile, as rental demand increases, the number of renters facing affordability challenges is also on the rise.
The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025 by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies reveals that cost burdens for renters reached another record high in 2023. Similarly, the JPMorganChase Institute reports that renter affordability is declining and forcing people to devote more of their take-home pay to housing costs. There is a growing need for affordable housing across the U.S., and that rings true here in Wilmington.
To close that gap, it’s essential that all Wilmington residents share in its growth with housing options that accommodate a range of needs and budgets. For the Pennrose real estate firm, this meant delivering a concrete solution to the local community, resulting in housing for individuals and families who otherwise might not have been able to live in the area.
Reinvesting in Wilmington’s Riverside
In Wilmington, the Riverside redevelopment initiative is focused on neighborhood stability at a scale that can be felt across generations – bringing housing, education and community resources together so families can remain rooted and move forward. Imani Village, developed by Pennrose in partnership with the Wilmington Housing Authority and nonprofit community organization REACH Riverside and constructed with support from JPMorganChase, is part of this broader effort, which is expected to create more than 600 high-quality, mixed-income homes while also enhancing and expanding EastSide Charter School and Kingswood Community Center to help establish a “cradle to college/career readiness education pipeline.”
By tying new housing to strengthened local institutions, the redevelopment aims to reduce the pressure that forces families to relocate and instead keep children closer to school, neighbors closer to one another and residents connected to the services that help them thrive. In practical terms, Imani Village represents not just additional homes, but a commitment to building a neighborhood where opportunity is easier to access and easier to keep.
“We’re proud of the far-reaching impact this project will have. It reflects Pennrose’s mission to uplift our communities and expand the supply of high-quality, affordable homes,” said Brett Macleod, Community Development Banking, J.P. Morgan. “Every additional housing unit matters – and increasing the number that are affordable is critical.”
A broader commitment to Wilmington’s future
While Imani Village is foundational, the vibrancy of a community depends on much more. In Delaware, the firm provides banking services to 215,000 customers and works across sectors to expand economic opportunity. Over the last five years, JPMorganChase has invested more than $25 million in local nonprofit organizations, supported 25,000 small business clients and delivered financial health education to thousands of residents to broaden access to banking, financial health resources, homeownership and other wealth-building tools.
“As we work with local stakeholders to expand housing options, JPMorganChase’s goal is to create inclusive economic opportunity for all,” said Don Mell, Location Management, Americas East Region Lead and member of the Delaware & Philadelphia Market Leadership Team at JPMorganChase. “When our communities thrive, we all thrive.”
Learn more about affordable housing and community development at jpmorgan.com/commercial-real-estate.
Read more from Spotlight Delaware
DNREC opened the new Delaware Environmental Laboratory near Smyrna today with a ceremonial ribbon cutting for a state-of-the-art facility that features scientific analysis of emerging contaminants such as PFAS, water quality testing and early detection in Delaware of human and animal diseases. DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson led the cutting. Celebrants, left to right, were: DNREC Deputy Secretary Dayna Cobb, former DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, Sec. Patterson, Delaware Environmental Lab Director Ashley Kunder, former DNREC Secretary Christophe Tulou, former DNREC Secretary David Small, State Senator Stephanie Hansen, US EPA Region 3 Deputy Administrator Catherine Libertz, State Sen. Kyra Hoffner, Kate Rohrer representing US Senator Chris Coons, and John Gentile, representing Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester. /Delaware DNREC photo
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Delaware Environmental Laboratory has opened near Smyrna, providing a state-of-the-art facility to test water quality, chemical contaminants including per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and conduct molecular and microbiology. DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson was joined today for a ceremonial ribbon cutting by representatives of the state’s congressional delegation, state legislators, former DNREC cabinet secretaries and organizations that depend on the environmental lab for scientific analysis.
The new lab replaces a facility that has operated since 1983 in a converted 19th-century cannery that serves as DNREC’s headquarters building in Dover. The spacious new lab building will house up to 24 scientific, technical and support staff. With its strategic location adjacent the state Department of Health and Social Services Public Health lab, the Delaware Environmental Laboratory will perform testing in support of environmental and public health programs focused on detection of human and animal diseases, as well as environmental emergency response, education and training. The new facility is the third environmental lab in the state’s history.
Construction of the Delaware Environmental Laboratory was supported by a combined $29.7 million from the American Rescue Plan Act – funded by President Joe Biden and Congress – and state funds.
“DNREC’s lab has done amazing work in the last 40 years but did so in spaces that looked like a middle school science classroom, so it definitely needed an upgrade,” DNREC Secretary Patterson said. “The new modern, environmental lab will provide optimum conditions for the skilled and dedicated staff DNREC depends on to help protect the health and safety of Delawareans and our environment, with greater capabilities for addressing environmental and public health challenges of today and into the future.”
Beyond the lab’s expanded capabilities for analytical testing and applying scientific expertise, the proximity between the new DNREC laboratory and the Division of Public Health lab will enable the state to benefit from support between technical experts, materials and supplies when critical situations arise, such as preventing disease outbreaks on coastal beaches or helping mitigate accidental industrial releases of toxic substances or the impacts of pollutants – with both labs focused on underserved or at-risk communities throughout the state.
DNREC expects the new facility to encourage continuing innovation from the various specialized sections of the lab in meeting global environmental and public health challenges of the times, with PFAS and other contaminants of emerging concern among the priorities. The new Delaware Environmental Laboratory continues to increase DNREC’s analytical testing capability. The lab has established new testing capabilities for PFAS, emerging contaminants and other specialized testing, such as environmental DNA. Beyond meeting DNREC’s analysis needs, the Delaware Environmental Lab also serves organizations such as the Center for the Inland Bays, the Delaware River Basin Commission, the U.S. Geological Survey, Delaware Geological Survey and the University of Delaware.
“The opening of our new environmental laboratory represents a significant investment by the state,” said Delaware Environmental Laboratory Director Ashley Kunder. “This strengthens our ability to provide high-quality scientific data that state agencies and policymakers rely upon to make informed decisions and protect our natural resources. Most importantly, this laboratory reflects our commitment to the citizens of Delaware. This new facility supports our talented group of scientists and technical professionals, thus strengthens our ability to deliver timely, accurate, and defensible data. We are excited to begin this new chapter and look forward to meeting our mission of protecting public health and the environment.”
About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Water manages and protects Delaware’s water resources. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
Media Contact: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov
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