Major school projects across Delaware see funding in final legislative push
Delaware lawmakers just passed a capital spending plan with a $1.1 billion price tag.
Commonly known as the bond bill, it fuels construction and infrastructure projects across the state and closes out the latest throws of the legislative session. Roadways, new buildings, parks, community initiatives and many more line items pack nearly 100 pages of legislation.
And that, of course, includes funding for schools — particularly large-scale capital projects approved by the state.
These projects will not sound new, especially in their communities. But highlights among funds slated for new school buildings and other improvements stick out within some $200.4 million in total capital spending earmarked for education in fiscal year 2025.
These investments join local funding in most cases, as projects look to start or continue progress across the state.
Overall, the Department of Education had approved 50 certificate of necessity requests for consideration ahead of this bond bill, 44 of which involved state funding across six districts.
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Further fueling a new Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School
New Castle County Vocational Technical School District broke ground on a new Hodgson Vo-Tech High just last fall.
The project sees about $54.1 million in combined state and local funds in the next fiscal year, as detailed in this spending plan. Its total cost will climb much higher, likely over $200 million.
"In order to continue to provide unparalleled opportunities for current and future students, NCCVT is constructing a new, state-of-the-art, 286,896-square-foot school on the current site of the playing fields," said the district in a press release last September. Next, they'll demolish the former building for new playing fields.
The new school aims for expanded career areas, a gymnasium, a theater, secure interior courtyards and more in a plan years in the making. The vision also includes a new high school fieldhouse. Initial estimates put completion sometime in 2026.
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New Leach School coming in Bear
Back in 2021, the Colonial School District shared it would get to build a new school — with 100% state funding.
The John G. Leach School, well over 60 years old on Lander's Lane, has long served students from all over the state with various disabilities and other conditions. But the current building was no longer meeting needs. Design has begun, alongside input from staff and community, and the school system previously eyed 2024 for construction to begin.
Now, this capital spending bill delivers about $37.5 million to get started.
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Looking toward a new Sussex Tech campus
Visions for a new Sussex Technical High School complex have been long underway.
This bond bill shows about $57 million in combined state and local funding heading toward the project in the next fiscal year. Last year, the district's board of education unanimously approved plans for the project, estimated to cost well over $200 million.
The sprawling campus looks to deliver a new, three-story high school and much more.
Smyrna revamps existing school, sets out for new construction
Additions to Smyrna's Clayton Intermediate, soon-to-be middle, school total about $17.1 million in combined state and local funds within this spending plan, while a new intermediate school sees just over $8.8 million.
The latter just saw that local taxpayer support earlier last month.
Citing "critical need," the district held a second-chance referendum to secure local funds for the new school, looking to answer classroom-capacity needs with over 600 new students. With just 22 votes making the difference, Smyrna voters approved the boost.
That school will come with some 66,000 square feet, 26 classrooms, media center, gym and more for fourth and fifth graders, according to the district's webpage.
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Renovations galore in Red Clay
Some nine different school buildings in Red Clay Consolidated School District also line the schedule for fiscal year 2025.
That's about $8.7 million in this spending plan. Overall, DOE approved some $192.3 million in state funds last fall for Red Clay renovations in certificate of necessity applications, with projects spread over the next few years. That's some 29 buildings slated for impact.
In this bill, renovation projects at AI duPont, Brandywine Springs, Dickinson, Heritage, Johnson, Lewis, McKean, Mote and Stanton are mentioned so far.
To explore other projects and expenditures in the bond bill, read its text posted on the General Assembly's website.
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Got a story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware school projects see major investement in 2025 bond bill
