Nettie Green May 13, 2021
Kudos to the Cape Gazette for the even-handed way it handled the Cape Henlopen School District’s school board election. The good turnout was largely due to the extensive coverage of this important election. Awareness of the issues and of the candidates and their stands helped us know how to vote and the importance of voting. To quote from DC’s Korean War monument, “Freedom isn’t free.” It takes participation from each of us.
Thank you, Cape Gazette, for your participation!
Nettie Green
Rehoboth Beach
A letter to the editor expresses a reader s opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
Janis Hanwell May 10, 2021
As you probably are aware, I am running for a second term on the Cape Henlopen school board. Back in 2016, I remember thinking that five years seemed like a long time to have ahead of me, but I am here to tell you the years have flown by. I now have two grandchildren in Cape schools and a third who is about 4 1/2 years away from kindergarten. As a board member, I have been fortunate to have been a part of some really great things happening in Cape. Strategic planning is now ongoing, our Spanish immersion program continues to grow, test scores have improved, and the opportunity gap is narrowing. We have hired many great teachers, administrators, and support staff reflective of the children we serve, supported professional development in trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and cultural responsiveness, aligned the curriculum across five elementary schools and updated our grading system, provided more opportunities for recognition of staff
Meet the candidates: Sussex School board elections 2021
Cape Henlopen, Delmar, Laurel and Woodbridge all have contested races.
Indian River has no expiring school board member terms this year and will not hold an election, while Milford and Seaford will automatically elect new members who are running unopposed.
In Milford, Adam Brownstein and Scott L. Fitzgerald will join the school board. Brownstein will serve a five-year term for District C. Fitzgerald was appointed in January after Judith Purcell resigned due to a move. With no one else filing for the seat, he ll finish serving a one-year term for District D.
In Seaford, Kimberly Hopkins is running unopposed for the at-large seat and will serve a five-year term.
Marilyn F. Booker
What are your children being taught in the Cape Henlopen School District schools?
I’ll confess that I have no children in any Delaware school. However, that doesn’t preclude my interest and concern about the content of the lessons your children and grandchildren are receiving. Ashley Murray is running for the at-large school board position that is currently held by Janis Hanwell. Janis has held this seat since 2016.
After speaking with Ashley and other parents with children currently in Cape schools, I found that schools in the Cape Henlopen School District have been teaching about “white privilege,” “critical race theory” and pushing the “1619 Project” - a “history” that has been labeled a myth by scholars across the country. Ashley Murray is opposed to these radical lessons, and believes that our schools should be fully opened and teaching children to be successful in STEM studies rather than these progressive ideologies that vi
Laura Willey-Brittingham May 6, 2021
I am casting my vote for Janis Hanwell for Cape Henlopen school board. My family has known her since she first came to Cape Henlopen School District to teach at Milton Junior High. When my own daughters went through Cape, she was an administrator at the district office and was always there for me if needed.
Just like when she was employed by Cape, Janis still supports parents’ efforts to make sure their children receive a high-quality education with the resources they need to excel. As a current board member, she is always pushing for a rigorous academic curriculum, the best instructional leaders, a fair disciplinary system, and solid career pathways that will prepare students to be successful and productive adults in whatever field they choose. Janis is also committed to making sure the district provides the supports and programs necessary to close the achievement gap, and while there is still work to be done, observable gains ha