Indian River School District Considers Change to Start, Dismissal Times

SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. - The Indian River School district is asking voters to approve more than $7 million dollars in funds in a referendum on November 22nd. 

The move comes after the district already imposed $3 million in budget cuts in August. Superintendent Susan Bunting told WBOC that the district has simply grown too much to exist on current funds.

"Tax monies have not been keeping up with our growth, so we need to go back to the voters to ask for support," Bunting said. "We're very optimistic the public will understand our students' needs and support us." 

Bunting says the money will allow them to hire more teachers, update the schools' software, replace textbooks and technology like computers, and fund student programs. The money will also increase school safety initiatives, including improving doors and windows, buying security cameras for buses and schools, and hiring more school security monitors and school resource officers. 

The $7.35 million will come out of property taxes for property owners in the Indian River School District. If the referendum passes, the district estimates it will cost property owners an extra $95 a year. Jessica Brown lives in Dagsboro and she says that's money well spent.

"If I can help in any way to help the children, absolutely," she said. "I'm all in.

Before the November 22nd referendum, the district is hosting seven meetings at schools across the district. There, voters can ask questions and see where their money will be going. If the referendum fails, the district will do another one next year between January and March. If it fails again, Bunting says employees will lose their jobs.

"We will be looking at cuts to the current staff; significant cuts across the board," she told WBOC. "Custodians, secretaries, para-professionals, teachers administrators...we won't be able to keep up with the current payroll."

Jessica Brown has children in the district, and says the resources the referendum would supply would be a huge help to her family. She has a message for her fellow voters.

"I have two special needs children. The extra things really mean a lot," she said. "People should do it, absolutely." 

All the information on the referendum can be found on the district's website. 

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