Cape voters approve referendum

Cape Henlopen voters turned out in support of the elementary school referendum March 23 approving it 2,947 – 1,031, nearly a 3-to-1 majority.

"We have a lot of work to do now,"  said Superintendent Robert Fulton. "The money for a new H.O. Brittingham Elementary should be available by July 1."

Fulton and Director of Administrative Services Brian Bassett presented the plan for improved elementary schools at about 60 community meetings before the March referendum.

"It was a total Cape community effort," Bassett said.

For the first time that he can remember, Bassett said, all three towns that make up the Cape Henlopen School District supported the plan.

The totals at the Cape Henlopen High School polling place were 1,617 for and 588 against; at Mariner Middle, 636 voted for and 261 against; and at Rehoboth Elementary 664 voted for and 164 against. There were 30 absentee votes in favor and 18 against.

"To me, it was a Cape vote, not just a town vote," Bassett said. "It's great to see consistency across the towns."

Board member Jen Burton said Milton voters routinely vote no in referendums.

"We've never won in Milton," she said. "The results have always been no, even for the high school."

By approving the referendum, voters agreed to foot $48 million of a $154 million building project, a $74 annual property tax increase for a $250,000 home assessed at about $22,000.

New schools will be built at H.O. Brittingham and Rehoboth elementaries. Both schools will use the design for the new elementary on Route 24. All schools will be built for 720 students from kindergarten to fifth grade.

HOB will be the first school built with an anticipated completion date of 2018. A new Rehoboth Elementary is expected to open in 2019.

Once HOB is complete, Milton Elementary students will attend the old HOB building until renovations at Milton Elementary are complete. Renovations are expected to be finished by 2021, when the old HOB building would be demolished.

The Lewes School will be renovated to hold Shields Elementary students. Renovations are expected to be finished by 2021.

Voter turnout was steady throughout the day, said Ken McDowell, director of Sussex County Department of Elections.

By comparison, voter turnout in the 2014 referendum to approve building a new elementary school on Route 24 was higher, 3,597 for and 2,410 against.