Delaware

Delaware parents outraged after Democrats kill SRO bill in committee – 47abc

Published

1 year ago

January 29, 2025

Delaware parents outraged after Democrats kill SRO bill in committee – 47abc

DOVER, Del. – Delaware parents are outraged and speaking out tonight after a bill to increase school resource officers statewide was killed in committee.

“These children and these students are the future of our state, and to put their safety first should be a priority,” explained Kim Petters, a Kent County mom who, for years, has advocated for increasing safety in Delaware schools.

The legislation, House Bill 32, would have established school officer units to fund school resource officers (SROs) or constables in all of Delaware’s public schools. There’s actually a number of schools across the First State that do not have an SRO on-site.

The bill’s future was left in the dark after Democrats who sit on the House Education Committee voted against it, a decision that’s left some Delaware parents like Erin Chronister shocked and appalled.

“If we had one priority, it should be making sure that our schools are secure and safe,” Chronister emphasized. “I think that it’s really important that we do take this seriously because I don’t want to be on the news saying ‘well, our lawmakers said it really wasn’t a big chance of this happening.’”

Chronister was eluding to the fear that many parents have across the First State, and the country for that matter, and that’s the potential for a mass school shooting.

After the bill was killed, many parents took to social media to express their frustration, and in doing so they made it clear that there hope was that the bill would pass and add another layer of protection for their children to help prevent such tragedies.

Among the Democrats who sit on the House Education Committee who voted against the legislation is State Rep. Claire Snyder Hall. WMDT’s Rob Petree asked her about those concerns, specifically about how parents feel the bill could help prevent mass shootings in schools.

Rob: “God forbid, what happens when someone walks into a Delaware school with a machine gun?”
Snyder Hall: “Well, that’s, uh, horrible situation if it were ever to happen. Of course, that’s a statistically low probability event, and there’s no evidence that the presence of SROs in schools have stopped mass shootings in the past. So, hopefully that won’t happen.”

Rep. Snyder Hall says she voted against the bill because of the price of it, and claimed that they could hire multiple teachers for the price of one SRO.

“The SRO bill was not voted out of committee, not because we don’t care about school safety, but because of the astronomical price tag,” Snyder Hall said. “We could hire three teachers for the price of one SRO. And there’s a lot of needs in the schools and I think that our public resources would be better used if we let educators educate and let the police do police work.”

That’s a notion Chronister took exception with.

“A constable’s salary, Appo and probably MOT, they’re about the same, it’s like 40 grand a year to start,” Chronister said. “So, I would just ask ‘like, what are we paying our teachers if we can hire two to three teachers for the salary of one constable?’ That seems a little outrageous.”

The bill’s primary sponsor, State Rep. Bryan Shupe, said he was disappointed his bill didn’t make it out of committee, but that he’s hopeful lawmakers can come together as parents continue to make their voices heard.

“I don’t think it’s the end,” Rep. Shupe said confidently. “I think we’ll all come together after parents have a say and call their representatives and their senators.”

Rep. Shupe took issue with some of the arguments that were raised as the bill was considered in committee, specifically a notion that to add more SROs in Delaware schools could create a ‘prison pipeline’ that starts in school.

“I was very disappointed that the safety of our children wasn’t a priority,” Rep. Shupe said. “What I was most disappointed at though was the calls from other representatives trying to say that SROs would create a ‘education to prison pipeline’ or suggesting that SROs would be arresting kids for doing things that kids usually do.”

While the bill may be dead this time around, Rep. Shupe and his Republican colleagues who supported it hope that a future bill will be considered with a different outcome and that the conversation continues on how to increase safety in Delaware schools.

Tags: bryan shupe, claire snyder-hall, delaware, delaware general assembly, education, Erin Chronister, Kim Petters, politics, school resource officers, school safety, schools, SRO

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Delaware

Delaware County school employee accused of sex assault of minor in Texas

Published

9 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Delaware County school employee accused of sex assault of minor in Texas

RADNOR, Pa. – Authorities say a Delaware County school employee is accused of traveling to Texas to sexually assault a minor he met online.

What we know:

Michael Robinson, 43, was taken into custody near Radnor Middle School where investigators say he worked as a paraprofessional.

Investigators believe Robinson traveled to Tyler, Texas in the summer of 2024 to meet a minor he had connected with online.

Robinson, according to U.S. Marshals, allegedly sexually assaulted the teen over the course of a weekend.

Delaware County school employee accused of sex assault of minor in Texas

Prosecutors in Smith County, Texas charged Robinson in December with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 15-years-old.

Robinson is being held at a Delaware County jail where he is awaiting extradition to Texas.

What they’re saying:

U.S. Marshals in Pennsylvania said Robinson’s arrest shows that “sexual predators will always be pursued relentlessly.”

The Radnor Township School District said Robinson has been placed on leave and will not have contact with students.

“Parents of the limited number of children to whom the employee was assigned were contacted by the administration immediately.”

The district said it is cooperating with law enforcement and has “no information indicating misconduct involving district students.”

Crime & Public SafetyDelaware CountyNews

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Delaware

Rehoboth cancels 2026 Polar Bear Plunge after major snowstorm

Published

21 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Rehoboth cancels 2026 Polar Bear Plunge after major snowstorm

Rehoboth Beach has canceled the upcoming 2026 Lewes Polar Bear Plunge and 5K Run to the Plunge as the Sussex County resort town continues dealing with the aftermath of last weekend’s snowstorm, organizers of the annual Special Olympics fundraiser said on Feb. 26.

“Rehoboth Beach is navigating significant challenges because of the snowstorm,” a Special Olympics Delaware email announced. “At present, the boardwalk and all beach crossings remain snow covered and many sidewalks throughout downtown Rehoboth are as well.”

The plunge and 5K had been rescheduled to March 1 after severe weather conditions in late January caused it to be moved from its original Feb. 1 date.

The plunge will not be rescheduled for this year.

Last weekend’s storm brought nearly 2 feet of snow to parts of Sussex, closing hundreds of roads when trees and wires were downed. There were also power outages across the county, including Rehoboth Beach which had to restore power to its wastewater treatment facility.

Plunging for a cause

The polar bear plunge is one of Special Olympics Delaware’s more popular fundraisers, drawing more than 4,000 participants last year.

In recent years, the event has been bringing in more than a million dollars for Special Olympics Delaware. Last year, plunge events drew $1.3 million, just shy of the record-breaking $1.5 million raised in 2024.

Alex Seymore, Special Olympics Delaware’s director of digital media, said the organization had already raised more than $1 million from this year’s event.

“We expect a small impact,” Seymore told Delaware Online/The News Journal. “But again, we’re showing that we’ve raised over a million dollars.

He added they are reviewing how the cancelation will impact them and their services.

“It’s been just a couple hours, so we’re not completely positive how it will impact things in the long run,” he said. “We’re thankful for everybody that’s helped raise this money through this time.”

What is still occurring

While the plunge and 5k and been canceled this year, there are other indoor events that will continue as scheduled:

Feb. 27

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. – pick up packets and souvenir sales for the Plunge and 5K Run to the Plunge at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach.

Feb. 28

noon to 2 p.m. Fire & Ice in the Atlantic Sands Ballroom, 1 Baltimore Ave, Rehoboth Beach.
2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Restaurant chili contest.
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. – pick up packets and souvenir sales for the Plunge and 5K Run to the Plunge at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

Trump Accounts for kids; are they available in Delaware?

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Trump Accounts for kids; are they available in Delaware?

President Donald Trump touted his Trump Accounts for kids platform during his State of the Union address Tuesday, Feb. 24, months before the savings account program goes live this summer.

Roughly 63% of parents open bank accounts for the newborns and young children according to The Financial Brand, showing that in general, opening a bank accounts for your child is a good idea.

But what, exactly, are Trump Accounts for kids, and does it make sense for you to open one for your child? Here’s everything you need to know.

Trump Account for kids explained

The IRS explained in a memo Trump Accounts will be available for any children under 18, with $1,000 seed money available for newborns and very young children.

That account will be seeded with federal government funds.

“A Trump account is a type of traditional individual retirement account that is established for the exclusive benefit of an eligible individual and that is designated at its establishment as a Trump account,” read the IRS’ Trump Accounts memo. “Upon an election under the pilot program, $1,000 is paid by the Secretary to the Trump account of an eligible child.

“An eligible child means a qualifying child who is born after December 31, 2024 and before January 1, 2029, who is a U.S. citizen, and for whom no prior pilot program election has been made.”

The Trump Accounts website confirms parents do not need to make a contribution, but can deposit up to $5,000 a year into the interest-bearing account.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in comments published Jan. 28 a single $1,000 deposit into a Trump Account at birth should grow to an estimated $500,000 by the age of retirement.

When will Trump Accounts for kids lunch, and can I apply in Delaware?

Trump Accounts for kids will go live on Monday, July 5, and parents in Delaware are allowed to apply for the nationwide offering when it opens.

Until then, you can visit the Trump Accounts website to add your name to the email list to get an update when the service goes live.

The IRS and U.S. Department of the Treasury released Trump Accounts guidance you can read before opening an account.

Problems with Trump Accounts for kids

While opening a Trump Account for your child may seem a good thing, TIME uncovered a few problems with President Donald Trump’s namesake account service.

“The program may be open to every child, but its benefits will flow overwhelmingly to families with the means to contribute thousands of dollars a year. What could have been a leveling tool instead risks becoming a widening wedge between the haves and the have-nots,” read a portion of TIME’s take. “For a family living paycheck-to-paycheck that is unable to add anything beyond the government’s $1,000 seed deposit, the balance reaches just $5,839 by age 18. “

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies echoed much of that sentiment, and said Trump Accounts for kids will have the opposite effect from its stated goals.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

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