$3 million in federal funds head to students in Wilmington high-rise: Education roundup

Summer is heating up, but education news is still flowing in Delaware.

Wilmington's Community Education Building just landed $3 million in federal support, spearheaded by congressional delegation. And speaking of lawmakers, get caught up on what other state-level education legislation made its way through Dover before the end of last month.

Additionally, learn more about a Hindu school and cultural hub eyed for the Wilmington area.

In this weekly roundup, we'll catch you up on these and more education updates you may have missed.

[Did we miss another good education story? Tell me about it: [email protected].]

$3 million in federal funds head to Wilmington students

United States Sen. Chris Coons and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester announced a federal investment to the tune of $3 million, headed to the Community Education Building.

Secured through the federal appropriations process, the investment aims at both capital improvements to increase the Wilmington high-rise's capacity, as well as further fuel for the creation of a Youth Development Center.

The Community Education Building — over 10 stories packed with four schools, seven nonprofits, some 1,500 students and family services — has been serving students for roughly a decade this year. The downtown education hub plans to build the Youth Development Center just a block over, bringing athletic facilities, spaces for workforce development programs, an early learning center and more near the 1200 block of Wilson Street.

"The Community Education Building is all about advancing equity, empowering families and ensuring that every child can succeed in school and at home," wrote Rep. Blunt Rochester to Facebook last Tuesday, following the announcement.

Deeper on Delaware's CEB:They go to school in a Wilmington high-rise. Soon, these kids hope to see a ‘safe haven’

ICYMI: What else made the cut in education reform this session?

• Aimed at future construction projects, Senate Bill 279 looks to require that when a school is built or a major renovation is undertaken, such new construction must include certain safety features. The bill described a secured vestibule, the installation of "ballistic resistant glass or other ballistic resistant materials" in certain areas of the school and more potential benchmarks. It joined bills headed to Gov. John Carney for his signature.
• Another concerned sexual assault on college campuses. Though current law makes training available — and many schools implement a version of it — House Bill 308 looks to mandate that Delaware students and employees within higher education receive training in sexual assault prevention.
• Senate Bill 295 looks to reinforce that prospective child care workers must provide "service letters" to facilities before they can be hired. Such letters would need to include statements from prior employers regarding "any concerns they have about the job candidate working with children and any warnings, reprimands, suspensions or discharge the job candidate received." 
• The 2% raise for teachers and specialists in this year's budget means such educators will have seen an 11% increase in base salary over the last two years, as Delaware Senate Democrats explained in a press release. The base pay for paraprofessionals, custodians, secretaries, bus drivers and food service workers will have increased by 6 to 18% during the same period, depending on job classification.

School construction in the works:Major school projects across Delaware see funding in final legislative push

Seven grants, $2.2 million headed to Delaware community learning centers

Seven Delaware sites will see new grant funding to "establish or expand" community learning centers.

This centers are those looking to "provide students with enrichment opportunities when school is not in session," according to an announcement from Delaware's Department of Education. The competitive grant application was open to local school systems, interagency, interdepartmental, community and faith-based or other private or public organizations — particularly those serving students and families with lower incomes.

From tutoring and mentoring, to sports and the arts, these locations must provide a wide range of "high-quality services to support student learning and development," per DOE. This must also include family literacy programs.

Grant awardees are:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware Sussex ($320,000)
• Capital School District, Dover High School ($320,000)
• Capital School District, Dover Middle School ($320,000)
• Capital School District, East Dover Elementary School ($320,000)
• Capital School District, South Dover Elementary School ($320,000)
• Thomas Edison Charter School ($320,000)
• University of Delaware 4H, Shue-Medill Middle School ($240,000)

Future educators in Smyrna clinch national win — again

Last week, Smyrna High School was named national champion at the annual conference for Educators Rising, a career and technical education student organization dedicated to future educators.

It marks the second consecutive win for the school, according to Delaware's Department of Education, and the first time any team has won the national title two years in a row.

“Congratulations to these students on their exemplary performance at the conference and, even more importantly, their passion for education careers," Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said in a press release. "Our schools and their future students need their leadership, and I look forward to their talents one day supporting student learning in Delaware schools."

Also for the second year in a row, 36% of participants from Delaware placed in the top 10.

Find a full list of those winners online.

New Hindu school, cultural hub coming near Wilmington

After the donation of a new building off Newport Gap Pike, Krishnadham Academy of Delaware can soon officially take shape.

"We moved out to the U.S. around 10 years back, and it was like that dream to build a temple or religious education center to share, you know, our information and our culture," said Kripa Dalal, her Shroff family having moved to the First State from Dubai.

That's a vision, and years of work, looking to share elements of Hindu faith, specifically those of followers of Lord Krishna. It will be called Krishnadham, or Krishna’s house, after the god of protection, compassion and love, widely revered among many Hindu divinities.

Aniket Shroff, co-director and Dalal's brother, hopes to see a cultural hub take shape — mainly targeting youth in the region with religious education, dance classes, plays, event space and much more. The family finds inspiration from "The Vraj," up in Pennsylvania, known as an institute of Indian heritage and a prominent cultural center. But the two-hour drive gets old.

Now, there's work to be done to bring it to Delaware.

More on Delaware schools:Lawmakers signal support for removing Christina School District from Wilmington

"We would like to spread awareness that, hey, this organization is established, they're meeting once a month, serving religious education," Shroff said, working alongside his sister and father. "And they have lofty ideas, but certainly one is spreading ideas about Lord Krishna."

Shroff said roughly 150 academy members already stay connected through group chats and open monthly meetings in rented space, but he expects expansion with an official location, just west of Wilmington. He estimates more than 1,500 in the greater region could use a place to gather, pray or learn specific to his faith.

Renovations lay ahead to ready the building. The family needs to build a website. In time, Shroff aims to see a future with weekly course offerings and weekend food giveaways. The family knows more help will be needed, but their community is ready.

"They're very, very supportive," Dalal said. "They actually want their kids to be connected with the roots of the community."

If you go

What: Krishnadham Academy of Delaware

When: Soft opening, July 14

Where: 2915 Newport Gap Pike, Brandywine Springs

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 [email protected] or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01.