38th Member Addresses the IRSD School Board over Budget and Referendums
- 38th District Republican Club
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
As a concerned citizen who has attended the last five IRSD Board meetings and four committee meetings, I feel it is important for the residents of the Indian River School District to hear what is going on relative to how the school board views money management.
I’ve heard the term “referendum” used frequently, often and casually. Discussions by the school board and IRSD administrative officials often pivot to questions like, “How can we pass a referendum?” or “How do we convince the community to support one?” This rhetoric signals a troubling mindset — one that assumes more funding is the only solution.
I spoke at the September board meeting to urge the administration, school board, teachers’ union, and stakeholders to chart a different course. A referendum is not a strategy; it is an admission of failure. It suggests a failure to practice fiscal responsibility, to manage expenses effectively and to prioritize the community’s trust. When spending other people’s money, there’s little incentive to be prudent. I asked those in attendance this question: If this were your personal budget, would you make the same spending choices?
For example: $52,000 was spent on cable modifications in the IT area (Quote 013290) to meet changes requested by the current administration. This design change would not improve efficiency but merely satisfy the new administration. It was clearly not a must-have initiative!
This is not an isolated incident but a symptom of deeper issues — bloat, oversight lapses and decisions that lack accountability. These missteps erode public confidence.
The community’s frustration is evident. Two referendums have failed, with the second rejected by an even wider margin. Yet, the board responded with a 10 percent increase, disregarding the electorate’s clear message. This breach of trust demands accountability. Every expenditure must be scrutinized, and wasteful spending must be cut before asking taxpayers for more.
Contact your local school board member or IRSD administrator and ask them to manage the district’s budget responsibly. Ask them to plan strategically, prioritize wisely and demonstrate fiscal discipline. A referendum should be a last resort, not a default. Tell them to prove to the community that they can manage resources responsibly and rebuild the trust that they have lost. Ask them to rescind the incremental 10 percent increase they just passed!
In closing, we need our school board, school administrators and teachers’ union to think differently and challenge the status quo. Ingenuity, creativity and commitment to fiscal discipline is how we fix the challenges within IRSD.
Below are IRSD latest performance updates. It is not pretty, especially given how much money is spent per pupil:
• Latest student outcomes for 2024 have been published, and IRSD showed no significant increase in math performance, at 35.97, up from 35.6, and Reading showed a decline in performance from 42.3 proficient to 41.2. (Source: DE Dept of Education)
• Delaware per-student spending in 2024 reached $21,641, up from $20,231 the year before — up 7 percent. (Source: DE Dept of Education)
Rick Radatovich
Frankford
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Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, networking, and a live theatrical performance of “Caesar Rodney & Friends,” - The Midnight Ride that Made a Nation - followed by a lively discussion led by WDEL’s Rick Jensen with CRI’s policy experts on the issues shaping Delaware’s future.
Tickets are $60 — and the Wilmington event sold out fast, so don’t wait!
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Let’s fill the room and show that Sussex County leads the way in carrying forward Caesar Rodney’s legacy.
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