Alison Myers files for re-election to Cape school board

Cape Henlopen school board President Alison Myers has filed to run in this year’s election, set for Tuesday, May 14.

“I can’t imagine doing anything different,” she said during a Feb. 7 interview. “It’s sometimes embarrassing to admit how much pleasure I get from serving in this volunteer position.”

First elected to her at-large seat in 2014, Myers was re-elected in 2019 and has been president since 2018. She was board vice president 2015-18. 

A former special education teacher, Myers holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in educational leadership, all from the University of Delaware.

Myers said she can’t imagine working with better people than district leaders. She said the strong relationships she’s forged with fellow board members and district staff have created a camaraderie that helps make tough decisions easier to work through.

It’s a unique situation not found among many school boards, she said.

“We respect each other and can disagree civilly, when we need to,” she said.

Myers said she is running for re-election not because anything needs to be fixed, but because she wants to continue the district’s improvements in different areas. One such focus is safety and security, she said, noting the incident at Cape High in January when a student was arrested for bringing a gun to school in his backpack.

How to balance safety initiatives while also fostering a welcoming environment will be a continual conversation among district leaders, she said, and we must always be vigilant.

Growth is another issue, she said, pointing to the March 26 referendum in which the district is asking for increases to capital improvements and operating expenses to fund a land purchase on which to construct a new district office, a bus maintenance facility and an indoor pool facility. 

Acknowledging the state’s denial of the district’s request for an expansion at Cape High and county council’s rejection of a voluntary school assessment to aid capacity-related school construction, Myers said she would like to figure out a way to work with the state and county for the benefit of all kids.

The funding system has never been fair and equitable, she said, but Cape has done a good job of long-term facilities planning.

“We’re navigating on our own a little bit,” she said.

She and husband Rob have five children: Bella, a Cape grad set to graduate college in May; Aubrie, a Cape High senior; Rylie, a Cape High freshman; Robbie, a Beacon Middle sixth-grader; and Bryn, a Lewes Elementary second-grader.

Bella is graduating a year early, Myers said, because she was able to attain 47 college credits through opportunities provided to her as a Cape High student.

The Area C seat of board member Janet Maull-Martin is also up for election this year. Maull-Martin had not yet filed to run by the Cape Gazette’s deadline.

Individuals seeking election are not considered qualified candidates until they file a completed, notarized filing form accepted by the Department of Elections. Additionally, the state election commissioner must determine that an individual is qualified under state code regarding criminal background and Delaware Child Protection Registry checks, and under citizenship and residency requirements.

The at-large, four-year term would go into effect in July 2024 and expire June 30, 2028. The candidate filing deadline is Friday, March 1 and the election is set for Tuesday, May 14. For candidate and voter information, go to elections.delaware.gov.