Cape district to submit project requests to state
The Cape Henlopen school board voted unanimously Aug. 22 to send two certificates of necessity to the state for approval.
Director of Operations Jason Hale said this request, which must be submitted by Aug. 31 to the Delaware Department of Education, is the first part of a months-long process. DOE will review the requests and notify the district by early December if any are approved, he said.
Then, district leaders will evaluate which projects to pursue, he said; not all requests sent to the state will also be asked of the public. The district is not obligated to pursue any state-approved project, he said.
The district focus remains on expanding Cape High, Hale said, noting more than 2,000 students are expected to be enrolled this year. All available space is being used, he said, and more is needed.
The first certificate of necessity asks for the ability to expand the high school with a 450-student capacity addition, likely to be constructed where the outside basketball court is, he said. Estimated costs for the 24-classroom expansion is just under $79 million, he said, and costs would be split 60/40, state/local, so about $31.5 million in local funds would be needed.
To expand the high school, the district office must move to allow construction of additional stormwater management areas and parking lots, he said.
The second certificate of necessity requests the ability to purchase up to 103 acres at the previously identified parcel along Cedar Grove Road upon which to construct a district office, bus maintenance facility and swimming pool complex, he said.
Estimated costs include $15.5 million for the land, $21.4 million for the district office, $5.9 million for the bus maintenance facility and $40.6 million for the natatorium, he said; all projects would be funded completely with local funds.
Board President Alison Myers then opened public comment, telling the audience that since the item is on the agenda, the board would be able to respond to any comments or questions.
One parent asked about the cost to prepare the certificates of need. Hale said the estimates were provided at no cost; the only real cost is his time in preparing documents.
Another attendee, Waymon Harmon, said it would be unwise to lose the ability to purchase the land. He suggested breaking up questions in a future referendum so voters can choose among options.
Attendee Hylton Phillips-Page suggested perhaps not constructing all potential projects on the same property. People are open to a lot of things, he said, but they need to be presented with options. He recommended a public-private partnership in the operation of a natatorium.
Board member Jessica Tyndall said she feels the public is unaware that school districts can’t just buy any empty parcel of land for projects. The land must be viable, she said.
The district must go through the Preliminary Land Use Service process to determine whether the land can be used, Hale said. All state agencies will review the state application to ensure the property is in a growth area with infrastructure in place.
The district will continue to seek land purchase options throughout its enrollment area, Myers said.
Board member Bill Collick said the district really needs to get moving on projects.
“The growth in this area speaks for itself,” he said.
