The June 9, 2026 regular meeting focuses on a blend of district operations, student achievement, labor agreements, policy updates, and preparations for the 2026-2027 school year. Board members are scheduled to consider routine business through the consent agenda while also taking formal action on several governance, labor, and student policy matters supported by detailed packet materials.
Several agenda items directly affect district operations for the coming school year. These include approval of new collective bargaining agreements covering Nutrition Services and Transportation employees, multiple service contracts for special education, operational bids, revisions to the Student Code of Conduct, continuation of school discipline improvement efforts, and updates on summer learning opportunities.
The meeting also highlights student and staff accomplishments through "The E in The Power of WE," recognizing student leadership, statewide academic achievements, Delaware 250 civic participation, and the district's Teachers of the Year while emphasizing Colonial's community-centered strategic vision.
Residents should also note opportunities for public participation, proposed changes to future board meeting dates, approval of an Opportunity Fund waiver, school choice updates, personnel actions, and ongoing oversight of district finances and major capital planning.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Student Success and "The Power of WE"
The board continues its district initiative highlighting the people behind Colonial's educational success. Student Board Representative Mia Castaneda-Ocampo is scheduled to update the board on student activities, athletics, and academics.
The district also recognizes William Penn students who competed in the Delaware Personal Finance Challenge and students from George Read, Gunning Bedford, McCullough, and William Penn who participated in Delaware 250's Mock Second Continental Congress, providing statewide civic engagement experiences leading into the nation's 250th anniversary.
Staff recognition includes the announcement of the 2027 Colonial Teacher of the Year, Chadia Garyeazon of Southern Elementary School, together with recognition of building-level Teachers of the Year and educators completing the six-month Equity Practitioner Program.
Collective Bargaining Agreements
The board is asked to formally approve new collective bargaining agreements with both the Colonial Food Service Workers Association and the Colonial Transportation Association covering the 2026-2029 period.
These agreements affect two major employee groups responsible for daily student services and represent significant labor actions before the upcoming school year.
Student Code of Conduct Revisions
Administration recommends waiving both the first and second readings to immediately adopt two targeted revisions.
One proposal makes disciplinary responses for repeated unauthorized electronic device violations more flexible by replacing mandatory out-of-school suspension and mandatory confiscation with optional disciplinary agreements, in-school suspension, and confiscation.
The second revision clarifies expectations for teachers and students regarding make-up work following both excused and unexcused absences.
School Discipline Improvement Plans
District administration presents progress updates on four School Discipline Improvement Plans originally approved in June 2025.
The presentation allows board members to review implementation progress and evaluate ongoing efforts to improve school climate and student behavior management across affected schools.
Summer and Extended Learning Programs
The Office of Extended Learning provides a districtwide update covering preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, Extended School Year (ESY), credit recovery, English learner programming, and 21st Century Summer Programs.
Most summer instructional programs begin June 22, 2026, with high school credit recovery beginning June 15 and continuing into August. Programs operate across multiple district campuses and include specialized services for qualifying special education students.
Opportunity Fund Waiver
Following public notice requirements, the board is scheduled to discuss and vote on an Opportunity Fund waiver authorized under Delaware law.
The packet indicates the waiver received required newspaper publication before board consideration, with administration requesting formal approval following public discussion.
School Choice Administration
Board members receive administrative reports covering:
- 26 choice terminations during the current school year.
- Three approved good-cause choice invitations for the remainder of 2025-2026.
- Eleven approved good-cause invitations for 2026-2027.
- Twelve approved kindergarten choice invitations for 2026-2027.
These reports provide transparency regarding student enrollment movement while protecting student privacy.
Governance and Board Operations
The board will consider changing its May 2027 regular meeting from May 11 to May 4 so district Human Resources staff can complete employment-related business while remaining compliant with labor and employment requirements.
The revised annual calendar otherwise maintains the district's regular monthly meeting schedule.
Financial Matters
Finance items include review of the April 30, 2026 Budget Variance Report summarizing revenues, expenditures, and local property tax receipts.
The board is asked to approve multiple operational and educational contracts, including:
- Food service paper goods contract extensions.
- Physical therapy services.
- Occupational therapy services.
- Speech-language therapy services.
- Behavioral services and supports.
- Substitute school nursing services.
- Access control systems.
- Trash and paper removal services.
The occupational therapy recommendation proposes awarding contracts to multiple qualified vendors rather than relying upon a single provider, giving the district flexibility to meet varying student needs throughout the school year.
The board is also asked to approve a property tax refund request associated with charitable property tax exemptions administered through the New Castle County tax pool. District administration notes Colonial's share of the refund is less than $100 despite larger refunds being issued through the broader tax pool.
Additional financial action includes consideration of Delaware School Boards Association membership dues for the 2026-2027 school year.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Key governance matters include:
- Approval of the Opportunity Fund waiver.
- Adoption of revisions to the Student Code of Conduct.
- Approval of revised 2026-2027 board meeting dates.
- Consideration of Delaware School Boards Association membership dues.
- Routine approval of board meeting minutes.
- Review of committee reports from DSBA, CSOA, Citizens Finance Oversight Committee, Strategic Planning, Major Capital Construction Review Committee, and other statewide organizations.
The packet includes numerous informational updates beyond action items.
The board receives updates from statewide education organizations, committee representatives, and district strategic planning efforts.
Student achievement presentations highlight financial literacy competition success, civic education participation, and ongoing student leadership through the student board representative.
The Office of Extended Learning outlines extensive summer programming serving preschool through high school students, including Extended School Year services, English learner programming, credit recovery, and enrichment opportunities.
The board also receives progress updates on School Discipline Improvement Plans that have been under implementation for approximately one year.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel reports include administrative promotions, additional summer assignments, new hires, resignations, retirements, and seasonal staffing.
Examples include assistant principal appointments, summer instructional staffing, custodial hires, nutrition employees, paraeducators, and retirements effective July 1, 2026.
The consent agenda also includes administrator assignments, contracts, volunteer coaches, and routine personnel actions for board approval.
Teacher recognition remains a major feature of the meeting through district Teacher of the Year announcements and recognition of educators completing the Equity Practitioner Program.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Operations recommendations include rebidding access control systems and procuring districtwide trash and paper removal services.
Food service operations continue through proposed extensions of paper goods and disposable supply contracts supporting school nutrition programs.
Specialized student services are supported through recommended contracts for occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, behavioral services, and substitute nursing coverage.
The meeting itself is held at the William Penn High School Innovation Center, while the proposed 2026-2027 board calendar continues using William Penn High School for most meetings after the summer administrative building sessions.
Public comment is scheduled before board action.
Community members may speak for up to three minutes either in person or virtually after registering through the Board of Education page on the district website.
The Opportunity Fund waiver also receives public discussion before board action.
The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. on June 9, 2026, at the William Penn High School Innovation Center in New Castle.
Students may experience updated discipline expectations, expanded summer learning opportunities, continued access to specialized educational services, and recognition of academic achievement.
Families are affected through school choice decisions, summer programming, student conduct revisions, and continuation of transportation and nutrition services supported through new labor agreements.
Employees are directly impacted by collective bargaining agreements, personnel actions, administrator assignments, and recognition programs.
Taxpayers benefit from continued financial oversight, budget monitoring, competitive procurement processes, Citizens Finance Oversight Committee reporting, and careful review of even relatively small tax refund obligations.
- How will the revised Student Code of Conduct affect disciplinary consistency across schools?
- What measurable improvements have resulted from the School Discipline Improvement Plans since 2025?
- What priorities are addressed in the new Nutrition Services and Transportation labor agreements?
- How will the Opportunity Fund waiver affect district programming?
- What criteria were used to evaluate vendors for specialized student services?
- How will success of the summer learning and credit recovery programs be measured?
- Are additional capital construction projects anticipated following committee reviews?
- What trends are emerging from recent school choice approvals and terminations?
- How does the district evaluate the effectiveness of its Equity Practitioner Program?
- What future policy issues are expected during the 2026-2027 school year?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- June 9, 2026: Board considers action on contracts, labor agreements, policy revisions, governance items, and operational approvals.
- June 15, 2026: High School Credit Recovery program begins.
- June 22, 2026: Most summer instructional, ESY, preschool, and enrichment programs begin.
- July 16, 2026: Most ESY and 12-month instructional programs conclude.
- July 30, 2026: Learning Academy and several summer enrichment programs conclude.
- August 1, 2026: High School Credit Recovery concludes.
- July 14, 2026: First regular board meeting of the 2026-2027 schedule.
- May 4, 2027: Proposed rescheduled May 2027 regular board meeting if approved.
Key Takeaways
- The board will consider two new collective bargaining agreements covering Nutrition Services and Transportation.
- Student Code of Conduct revisions focus on electronic device discipline and attendance-related make-up work.
- Four School Discipline Improvement Plans receive formal progress updates.
- Extensive district summer programming begins in June across multiple schools.
- Multiple specialized student service contracts are recommended for approval.
- Operational bids include security systems, waste services, and nutrition supply contracts.
- Student leadership, financial literacy, civic engagement, and educator achievements receive significant recognition.
- School choice reports document enrollment changes for current and upcoming school years.
- The board will consider moving its May 2027 meeting to May 4.
- Budget oversight, tax matters, and procurement continue through the regular consent agenda.
Official Sources
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, June 9 2026, New Castle, William Penn High School, Innovation Center, Student Code of Conduct, Opportunity Fund Waiver, Transportation Association, Food Service Workers Association, School Discipline Improvement Plans, Extended Learning, Summer Programs, School Choice, Kindergarten Choice, Occupational Therapy, Behavioral Services, Physical Therapy, Speech Language Therapy, Access Control Systems, Budget Variance Report, Citizens Finance Oversight Committee, Delaware School Boards Association, Teacher of the Year, Student Representative, Delaware 250, Personal Finance Challenge
