Special Presentation
Recognition to Laila Cottman - BSD Wilmington Learning Collaborative Student Representative
Ms. Lavina Jones-Davis and Laila Cottman
Ms. Lavina Jones-Davis, Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships presented an Award of Recognition to recent BSD graduate Laila Cottman for her service as BSD’s student representative on the Wilmington Learning Collaborative (WLC). As BSD’s WLC Student Representative, Laila attended board meetings and events and volunteered time in the community to mentor students at BSD’s WLC school, Harlan Elementary.
The Wilmington Learning Collaborative (WLC) is a partnership network of schools spanning the Christina, Brandywine, and Red Clay school districts, dedicated to improving educational outcomes for students in the City of Wilmington.
Special Presentation
Safety & Security Recognition
L-R (Andrew Shur, Patty Staker, and Kenneth Wells)
Assistant Superintendent Kenneth Rivera and Supervisor of Technology Patty Staker recognized BSD Technology employees Andrew Shur and Kenneth Wells for their exemplary dedication and outstanding service in enhancing the safety and security measures within the Brandywine School District. This acknowledgment highlighted their significant contributions in figuring out how to enable our technology systems to provide real-time (live) emergency camera access for the Delaware State Police and Wilmington Police for all of our sixteen (16) schools. Their proactive efforts have greatly strengthened the district’s security infrastructure, ensuring rapid and efficient law enforcement responses in times of need. This initiative underscores the district's commitment to safety and enhances its capacity to protect students, staff, and facilities against emergencies.
Superintendent’s Report
Student Safety Commitment
BSD Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Lisa Lawson, addressed concerns raised by recent allegations of misconduct involving BSD employees. Dr. Lawson assured the community that thorough investigations have been conducted, with fair and consistent consequences applied to all employees, regardless of any personal characteristics. Expressing regret over the actions that do not reflect the district's values, Dr. Lawson reiterated a commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all students. Measures are being implemented to support affected families and to strengthen policies and oversight, including revising hiring processes in collaboration with the Department of Education, enhancing staff training, and improving reporting mechanisms. Dr. Lawson emphasized the district's dedication to transparency, accountability, and the core values of the community, inviting direct communication with the community for ongoing trust and safety.
Dr. Lisa Lawson
Superintendent’s Report
New Teacher Orientation
BSD recently welcomed many new faces during our New Teacher Orientation event. From individuals who chose BSD to start their teaching journeys to seasoned educators looking to open a new chapter in their careers, we are excited to welcome them to BSD! This group also featured members of our brand-new Teacher Residency Program. BSD is proud to host teacher residents this upcoming school year for the first time from the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical Community College.
Superintendent’s Report
New Website
Our newly redesigned website went live on August 1st. The website features a cleaner, more navigable layout, optimized for both desktop and mobile use. Statistics show that 68% of our visitors use mobile devices to visit our website. Recognizing this trend, we prioritized mobile responsiveness to ensure that our website delivers a seamless and accessible experience on smartphones and tablets. Whether parents are at home or on the go, they can easily access important information such as school calendars, lunch menus, and district news. A special thank you to those who worked behind-the-scenes to make the new website possible, including Mik Austin, Andrew Shur, Craig Kielinski, and Ken Wells.
visit the all new
Superintendent’s Report
Transportation Updates
As we begin the school year, one of our top priorities has been to review and enhance our transportation services to ensure safety, efficiency, and reliability for our students and caregivers. The task of transporting our students is a responsibility we take very seriously, and we are committed to continuous improvement in this essential service area. This year, we have continued to make significant updates to our transportation system, designed to address past challenges and meet our community's evolving needs. These updates include:
- Continued use of the WheresTheBus Parent App allows parents to view location and arrival time information for any buses serving their household.
- All Brandywine School District buses will be equipped with the WheresTheBus Barcode Combo Reader, which requires students to enter or scan their student ID upon entering the bus. This will ensure consistent student identification whether they have the ID card with them or not. Parents can receive an immediate push notification when their child enters the bus.
- And finally, our Transportation Staff and Building admin will continue to have access to real-time tracking of bus location, speed, and routes via the Veo Now GPS Software.
Certificate of Necessity
BSD Director of Facilities, Mr. John Read, presented to the Board of Education seeking approval to submit a Certificate of Necessity (CN) for funding five capital projects to the State of Delaware.
The CN includes funding being sought for:
- Mount Pleasant Elementary renovations;
- Mount Pleasant High School renovations;
- S.I.T.E. Program facility;
- Upgrades of playgrounds;
- Secondary school athletic fields and infrastructure.
More information regarding BSD’s CN submissions can be found here.
John Read
District Advisory & Assessment Committee on Equity
The Board of Education voted to establish an Advisory & Assessment Committee on Equity to evaluate the Brandywine School District’s progress made since, and as a result of, the equity audits conducted in partnership with Equity & Beyond in 2022, and Hanover Research Company that same year. The newly-established committee will provide recommendations to the Board of Education regarding further implementation of a formal equity plan.
For more information regarding this resolution, please click here.
The next regularly scheduled Brandywine School District Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Elementary School.
