Colonial School District Board of Education Meeting July 2026

The Colonial School District Board of Education held a meeting on July 14, 2026, focusing primarily on budgetary and capital improvement updates for the 2026-2027 school year. The board reviewed the preliminary FY27 budget, highlighting the impact of legislative changes delaying the tax rate setting deadline to October 22, 2026, due to ongoing property reassessment issues in New Castle County. The budget discussion included state and federal funding projections, local revenue uncertainties, and the final year of referendum operating increases. The board approved the preliminary budget to allow the district to begin operations with flexibility pending final tax rate determinations. Additionally, the board received updates on major capital projects funded by a 2024 referendum, including the state-funded John G. Leech School construction and renovations at William Penn, Gunning Bedford, and Eisenberg schools. The construction projects are progressing on or ahead of schedule, with cost-saving measures such as reusing dirt from the Leech site. The board also approved a process for non-bargaining employee salary scales and made technical corrections to the board policy manual. Discussions included plans for elementary school feeder pattern realignment to address capacity and inclusivity concerns, particularly for students with special education needs. No new contracts or vendor selections were reported, but the meeting included significant procurement-related updates on capital projects and budget allocations.