Del. officials announce working groups to plan safe return to school buildings

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and Secretary of Education Susan Bunting have announced a public strategy to plan for the safe reopening of Delaware school buildings.

Officials say three COVID-19 school reopening working groups will advise the Delaware Department of Education, Delaware school districts, and charter schools on ways to safely and effectively reopen school buildings.

The working groups will be as follows:

• Health and Wellness
  • Co-chair: Mike Rodriguez, Associate Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
  • Co-chair: Dr. Meghan Walls, Pediatric Psychologist, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
• Academics and Equity
  • Co-chair: Monica Gant, Associate Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
  • Co-chair: Ashley Giska, Assistant Superintendent, Laurel School District
• Operations and Services
  • Co-chair: Chuck Longfellow, Associate Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
  • Co-chair: Oliver Gumbs, Director of Business Operations, Cape Henlopen School District

We’re told these groups will make final recommendations to the Department of Education in July. The groups will continue to meet through September 2020, or an alternate time period set by Secretary Bunting.

“We’re asking each working group to help the department develop a framework of essential actions that school district and charter school leaders should take to effectuate a safe return to school,” said Secretary Bunting. “These working groups also will help us reach out to our communities so that the ideas and concerns of Delawareans ground our work. These meetings will be open to the public, and I encourage participation across our state.”