School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Colonial School District – May 5, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Colonial School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: REGULAR SESSION - May 05 2026
• Meeting Date: 2026-05-05
• City: New Castle
• County: New Castle
• State: delaware
• Meeting Source URL: https://colonialschooldistrict-org.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=475
• Meeting Listing URL: https://colonialschooldistrict-org.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/
• Public Body Website: https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/board-of-education
• Meeting Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwn6z9IPhzSu0qjZKzcXUHw/streams
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwn6z9IPhzSu0qjZKzcXUHw

What Community Members Should Know

The May 5, 2026 regular meeting of the Colonial School District Board of Education combined routine governance with several significant updates affecting student wellness, school facilities, district operations, and future planning. The board also recognized student and staff accomplishments while advancing multiple operational and capital improvement projects.

A major focus of the meeting was the district's continued implementation of its "The Power of WE" strategic vision, emphasizing student engagement, health and wellness, safety, and community partnerships. Board members also received updates from the district's student representative, celebrated civic engagement projects completed by students across the district, and reviewed initiatives intended to improve school climate and student support services.

Operationally, the consent agenda included numerous facilities and procurement actions involving school construction, security improvements, roof replacement work, engineering services, food service contracts, and financial monitoring. While the packet referenced several bids and reports, many supporting documents did not identify specific contract dollar amounts in the readable text, so the packet primarily documents the scope of work rather than final expenditures.

The board also prepared for several future actions, including selection of a new non-voting student board member, discussion of an Opportunity Fund waiver that will return for formal approval in June following public discussion, and continued quarterly reporting on district safety and security improvements.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Student Leadership and Board Representation

The board heard a report from student board representative Mia Castaneda-Ocampo regarding academics, athletics, and student activities at William Penn High School. She highlighted Advanced Placement testing, upcoming prom, graduation preparations, athletic playoff opportunities, and student life updates. Because Mia graduates in June, the board considered and unanimously approved the administration's recommendation for the next non-voting student board representative, continuing a program established in 2020 to incorporate student perspectives into board discussions.

Student Civic Engagement and Academic Achievement

Students from William Penn High School and Colonial's middle schools presented results from Project Soapbox and Issues to Action, where students researched community issues and proposed solutions. Topics included teen mental health, bullying, gun violence, climate change, school equity, littering, cultural respect, sexual assault awareness, animal welfare, deportation issues, and environmental protection. The district also recognized winners of the annual Mike Snow Math 24 Competition, demonstrating continued emphasis on mathematics enrichment and civic participation.

Health and Wellness Initiatives

The board received a comprehensive WE Care: Pathways to Wellness presentation, including updates on school-based health centers, year-end wellness activities, collaboration with Nemours, and the McCullough Wellness Center. The materials indicate the district continues expanding integrated student health supports while aligning wellness programming with the district's strategic plan. The partnership emphasizes both physical and behavioral health resources available to students.

Capital Construction and Facilities Improvements

Multiple facility projects continued moving through planning and procurement. The board reviewed work involving the William Penn High School roof replacement, Gunning Bedford campus improvements, secure vestibule and classroom door hardware upgrades, design development for the Eisenberg renovation project, construction observation services for the new Leach school site, and structural and mechanical planning for the William Penn complex. These projects reflect ongoing investment in safety, building modernization, and long-term capital infrastructure.

Safety and Security

District administrators presented the sixth quarterly Safety and Security Update, fulfilling a commitment made after the October 2024 Colonial Safety and Security Summit. The district intends to continue providing quarterly public reports, with the next update scheduled for August 2026. The recurring reports are intended to improve transparency regarding school safety initiatives and responses to community feedback.

Financial Oversight

The Citizens Finance Oversight Committee reviewed and approved the district's Financial Position Report and Budget Variance Report before presentation to the board. The consent agenda also included monthly financial reporting, revenue and expenditure summaries, local property tax receipt information, procurement recommendations, and contract extensions.

Delaware Legislative and Governance Updates

Board representatives summarized recent Delaware School Boards Association legislative discussions involving House Bills 349 and 350 and Senate Bill 277. Topics included expanded school tax relief eligibility for disabled veterans, possible participation of homeschool students in extracurricular activities, and protections for pregnant and parenting students. These updates keep the board informed of statewide policy developments that may affect district operations.

Financial Matters

The board reviewed the district's Financial Position Report and Budget Variance Report through March 31, 2026, including summaries of revenues, expenditures, and local property tax receipts. The Citizens Finance Oversight Committee had already reviewed these reports before board consideration.

Procurement recommendations included:

• Awarding the Food Service On-Call Kitchen and Cooking Equipment Repair contract to American Kitchen Machinery and Gregg & Sons following competitive evaluation.
• Extending the Pat's Pizza lunch delivery contract for the 2026-2027 school year under existing terms.
• Extending US Foods food service arrangements.
• Awarding bids associated with the William Penn High School roof replacement.
• Awarding Gunning Bedford site work and security upgrade contracts.
• Authorizing geotechnical construction observation services for the new Leach construction project.
• Rejecting the existing Trash Removal Services proposal with plans to issue a new solicitation.
• Advancing the Eisenberg renovation design into the final construction drawing phase.

The readable packet did not identify final contract award amounts for these items.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The board unanimously approved the consent agenda and approved the recommendation for a new non-voting student board member.

Board members also discussed an Opportunity Fund Waiver under Delaware administrative regulations. Rather than immediate implementation, the district plans public discussion followed by formal board action at the June 9, 2026 meeting after the required public notice process.

Governance updates also included committee reports from the Delaware School Boards Association, Chief School Officers Association, Strategic Planning Committee, Redding Consortium, Major Capital Construction Review Committee, and Citizens Finance Oversight Committee.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Major informational reports included:

• Student representative update.
• Project Soapbox and Issues to Action civic engagement presentations.
• Mike Snow Math 24 Competition recognition.
• WE Care Pathways to Wellness presentation.
• School-Based Health Center updates.
• Nemours partnership overview.
• McCullough Wellness Center presentation.
• Quarterly Safety and Security Update.
• Financial Position and Budget Variance reports.
• Strategic planning implementation update, including development of district scorecards.
• Legislative updates from statewide education organizations.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The board recognized elementary art educator Kristen Rosenthal for receiving the 2026 National Art Education Association Eastern Region Elementary Art Educator Award.

The district also recognized Jeff Gibeault upon his retirement after approximately 30 years of service.

Monthly personnel actions included routine hiring, resignations, retirements, summer program staffing, transfers, volunteer coach approvals, and other standard personnel actions through the consent agenda. Summer instructional and paraeducator staffing was approved to support seasonal programming.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Major operational work continues across several district facilities:

• William Penn High School roof replacement.
• William Penn structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing planning.
• Gunning Bedford site improvements.
• Gunning Bedford secure vestibule and classroom security upgrades.
• Eisenberg renovation design development.
• New Leach school construction support services.
• Continued maintenance and food service procurement.
• Planned rebidding of district trash removal services.

Collectively, these initiatives focus on facility modernization, student safety, long-term maintenance, and operational reliability.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Public comment was available both in person and virtually, with individual speakers allotted three minutes.

Residents will have another opportunity to participate regarding the Opportunity Fund Waiver before the board considers final approval on June 9, 2026.

The district continues publishing quarterly safety updates in response to earlier community engagement surrounding school security.

Community Impact

Students benefit from expanded wellness programming, school-based health services, civic engagement opportunities, and continued investment in school facilities and security.

Families may see improved student services through Nemours partnerships, wellness initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and continued school choice administration.

Employees are affected through routine staffing actions, summer employment opportunities, recognitions, retirements, and continued strategic planning implementation.

Taxpayers receive continued oversight through financial reporting, Citizens Finance Oversight Committee review, and competitive procurement for district projects.

Community members continue receiving regular safety reporting and opportunities to provide public comment before major governance decisions.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What milestones are expected for the William Penn roof replacement and other capital projects?
• How will wellness initiatives be measured over the next school year?
• What outcomes have resulted from the Nemours partnership?
• What additional safety improvements are planned after the August 2026 update?
• How will the new student board representative be selected each year?
• What criteria were used to evaluate the awarded procurement contracts?
• Why was the trash removal solicitation rejected, and what changes will appear in the rebid?
• How will the Opportunity Fund Waiver affect district funding or operations?
• What strategic planning scorecards will be reported publicly?
• How are student civic engagement programs being expanded across additional grades?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• May 5, 2026: Regular board meeting and approval of consent agenda.
• May 7, 2026: Chief School Officers Association meeting.
• May 13, 2026: Strategic Planning Committee meeting.
• May 27, 2026: Next Delaware School Boards Association legislative meeting.
• June 9, 2026: Planned public discussion and board action on the Opportunity Fund Waiver.
• June 2026: Graduation of current student board representative and transition to newly approved representative.
• August 2026: Next quarterly Safety and Security Update scheduled for the board.

Key Takeaways

• The board continued implementing its strategic "Power of WE" initiative.
• Student leadership and civic engagement remained major themes.
• A new non-voting student board representative was approved.
• Major capital projects continue at multiple district facilities.
• Quarterly safety reporting will continue following community requests.
• Financial oversight reports were reviewed before board action.
• Multiple procurement and contract actions advanced district operations.
• Wellness initiatives remain a strategic priority.
• The Opportunity Fund Waiver returns for final action in June.
• Staff excellence and retirements were publicly recognized.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://colonialschooldistrict-org.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=475
• Meeting listing: https://colonialschooldistrict-org.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/
• Public body website: https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/board-of-education
• Meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwn6z9IPhzSu0qjZKzcXUHw/streams
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwn6z9IPhzSu0qjZKzcXUHw

About the Public Body

• Name: Colonial School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: New Castle, delaware
• County: New Castle
• Provider: diligent

Keywords

Colonial School District, Colonial Nation, Board of Education, Regular Session, William Penn High School, New Castle, Delaware, student board representative, Project Soapbox, Issues to Action, WE Care, Power of WE, wellness, Nemours, school-based health centers, Safety and Security Update, William Penn roof replacement, Gunning Bedford, Eisenberg renovation, Leach construction, financial position report, budget variance report, Citizens Finance Oversight Committee, DSBA, strategic planning, Opportunity Fund Waiver, school choice, facilities, procurement