LEWES, Del. - As Cape Henlopen High School has attempted to make accommodations for a growing student population, the state's Department of Education denied it funding. The state would have covered 60 percent of a $69 million project, including 24 new classrooms, athletic fields, facility upgrades, parking and storm water management.
The high school received an expansion recently in 2021 when a two-story wing was constructed to hold 400 students in 20 classrooms and four extra spaces.
Jennie Malloomian, a teacher and paraprofessional in the Cape school district since 2011, stressed the importance of expanding classroom space, "I'm a little surprised, especially with the way the area is growing. We always seem to be playing catch-up. Our schools are overcrowded. We have a lot of new schools, but they're overcrowded."
This is the proposed layout of the new District Office, pool and bus maintenance facility. The green represents the 103 acre property. The red outlined green square to the left indicates the 59 acres approved by the state.
The state did not respond to CoastTV's questions on why the state denied the funding request. However, it did approve Cape's plans to relocate the district office building along with a pool and bus facility off of Cedar Grove Road, but again with no help financially and on only 59 acres of the 103 acre parcel.
The district said they had hoped to obtain the 103 acres to home another elementary school too. The approved 59 acres includes a $21 million district office, a $40 million pool complex and a $6 million bus maintenance facility. The property itself would cost $9 million, also funded locally.
With the urgent need for local funding, local Debi Strauch is hopeful that the community will rally to support the needs of current and future students,
"It expands the kids' opportunities. If you're going to add a pool, you can have a swim team. I mean, there are just endless possibilities. They can use the bus, and with all this new growth and housing, it's definitely necessary."
The Cape Henlopen School Board is scheduled to meet on January 25th at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School at 6 p.m. to discuss whether they should adapt the project to fit within the current budget constraints or turn to local taxpayers for support through a referendum.