Key Talking Points About Upcoming May 27 Referendum

Christina School District May 2015 Referendum
Talking Points
How much will it cost me?
37 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The average home in the Christina School District is assessed at
about $64,000. This assessed value is not the same as the sale price or market price of a home—it is significantly
less. For an average assessed value home, the increase would be about $4.50/week (about the same as a “foot
long” at Subway).
Why is it needed now?
The portion of school taxes that is used for the daily operations of a school district, including funds that follow
students to charter schools, cannot be increased in Delaware without a successful referendum. When districts
ask for an increase, they typically ask for enough to last three to five years. The last CSD operating referendum
votes were in 2010 and 2003. Costs have increased. This referendum request will be phased in over three years.
It allows schools to maintain current programs, and keeps the district from going into debt. It will also prevent
substantial reductions to charter school budgets.
Can I trust the district with my money?
Yes. Since the last referendum, CSD paid off their prior debt from previous financial issues on time. Financial
procedures were strengthened. A volunteer group, Citizens Budget Oversight Committee (CBOC), reviews
financial reports monthly. All financial information and reports are available on the district website for full
transparency. Improvements committed to in 2010 were made as promised (Full-Day K in all schools, middle
school sports, elementary counselors, etc.). CSD did what they said they would do.
Isn’t CSD top heavy (too many administrators and paying them too much)?
No. CSD has 18% fewer administrators (such as district staff, school principal, or school assistant principal)
per employee than the next lowest New Castle County school district and, due to already approved reductions,
it will soon be 24% lower. With these reductions, CSD will have 31 fewer administrators than Red Clay. CSD
administrators are tied for the lowest paid in NCC. CSD administrators are paid 5.7% of all the district funds
used for salaries. This percentage is tied for the lowest in New Castle County.
Why should I support this now if the Wilmington schools will be leaving CSD in the next few years?
Two main reasons: 1) We don’t know if or when this will happen – we do know it won’t be next school year.
Without these additional funds, cuts will happen this fall that will impact classrooms and students across every
traditional public school and charter school that CSD area students attend; 2) We know high need schools are
already underfunded whether they are in Wilmington or suburban areas of CSD. There is talk about the state
giving high needs schools more. Let’s not dig a hole any additional funds must fill. Let’s start from the supports
that are in place now and then give the students the additional supports that they need.
What will the money do for students?
It will ensure class sizes don’t expand due to teacher layoffs. It will continue to enhance school safety by
allowing school resource officers to remain deployed in secondary schools. It will help support the social and
emotional needs of students by continuing to provide a full range of counseling and support services. It will
keep existing programs in schools like elementary instrumental music and strings, robust after-school activities,
as well as unique programs like Chinese and Spanish immersion and Montessori.
Christina School District May 2015 Referendum
Talking Points
Who can vote and where?
Any US and DE Citizen, who lives within CSD, and is 18 on or before May 27th may vote on May 27th between 10
am and 8 pm. Polling locations are listed below and absentee ballots are available as well from the New Castle
County Department of Elections, 302-577-3464.
Bancroft Elementary School
Keene Elementary School
700 N. Lombard Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
200 LaGrange Avenue, Newark, DE 19702
Bayard Middle School
Kirk Middle School
200 S. DuPont Street, Wilmington, DE 19805
140 Brennen Drive, Newark, DE 19713
Bear Free Library
Leasure Elementary School
101 Governor’s Place, Bear, DE 19701
1015 Church Road, Newark, DE 19702
Brader Elementary School
Maclary Elementary School
350 Four Seasons Parkway, Newark, DE 19702
300 St. Regis Drive, Newark, DE 19711
Brookside Elementary School
Marshall Elementary School
800 Marrows Road, Newark, DE 19713
101 Barrett Run Road, Newark, DE 19702
Carvel State Office Building
McVey Elementary School
820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
908 Janice Drive, Newark, DE 19713
Christiana High School
Newark High School
190 Salem Church Road, Newark, DE 19713
750 East Delaware Avenue, Newark, DE 19711
Downes Elementary School
Oberle Elementary School
220 Casho Mill Road, Newark, DE 19711
500 Caledonia Way, Bear, DE 19701
Elbert-Palmer Elementary School
Pulaski Elementary School
1210 Lobdell Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
1300 Cedar Street, Wilmington, DE 19805
First Presbyterian Church of Newark
Quaker Hill Place Apartments
292 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711
200 N. Washington Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Gallaher Elementary School
Shue-Medill Middle School
800 N. Brownleaf Road, Newark, DE 19713
1500 Capitol Trail, Newark, DE 19711
Gauger-Cobbs Middle School
Stubbs Elementary School
50 Gender Road, Newark, DE 19713
1100 North Pine Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Glasgow High School
West Park Place Elementary School
1901 S. College Avenue, Newark, DE 19702
193 West Park Place, Newark, DE 19711
Jones Elementary School
Wilson Elementary School
35 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19702
14 Forge Road, Newark, DE 19711