Triangle Neighborhood Association

Monday, April 7, 2008

1. The regular meeting of the Triangle Neighborhood Association was held on Monday, April 7, 2008 in the library of Warner Elementary School. Forty-four persons were in attendance.

2. Howard Sholl, TNA President, called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. He introduced the members of the TNA Board.

3. Howard presented a request to place cell phone antennae on the roof of Terry Apartments.

· Drawings were distributed for review.

· Ms. Pam Scott, Esq. was available for questions.

· The Zoning Board of Adjusters has a variance hearing on the docket for Wednesday, April 9 to discuss the placement of the antennae.

· Norm Griffiths, the Councilman for the Second District, spoke of the approval process. At these zoning hearings, the question of the local community’s reaction is requested, so tonight we have the chance to voice any opposition.

· Assurances were given that there will be no harm to any individual, any electrical appliances or TV reception.

· A question was raised from the floor: Has anyone talked with the people in Terry Apartments? Answer: The owners of the building were involved in all discussions.

· Motion: The TNA has no opposition to the placement of the antennae. Vote: There was no opposition registered.

· Howard will send a letter from TNA to Mr. Jim DiPinto in preparation for the zoning hearing.

4. Howard announced:

· At 7:30 PM, the meeting would enter into a Candidates Forum.

· Saturday, May 10 is a Clean up Day, so we are to put out all non-hazardous materials. There are to be no tires and no latex paint. TNA volunteers will meet at 8:30 AM to walk around with the truck. Any good items are to be put out in advance, so people might claim them.

· 2007 Community Organization Directories are available for anyone to have.

· 2008 Community Organization Directories can be obtained electronically or in printed form.

· Suzanne recommended that members work in our community garden on the afternoon of the clean up.

5. Norm Griffiths addressed the group:

· Contact number: 655-8084

· The process to determine the Wilmington Awards for excellence in business and education is beginning. If interested, contact 576-2108

· Businesses are required to post the hours of operation as required by their retail licenses.

· An ordinance waiting to be passed would restrict the parking of school buses in neighborhood from 8 AM to 8 PM. There would be a fee of $100 per violation.

· Another ordinance waiting to be passed would be directed to a sidewalk repair program for the worst sidewalks. City funds for repair would be available for emergencies.

· Public buildings need to have wheelchairs at entrances, so that individuals can get to the elevator.

· City Budget – There will be an 11% increase; however, no tax increases are planned. There are new Coty positions in revenue collection, parks and recreations, Licenses & Inspection and fire department fiscal management.

6. Captain Harris from Wilmington Police Department addressed the group:

· Crime statistics are available in printed form.

· A few instances were listed:

o Four youth were loitering in the neighborhood.

o An abandoned car was removed.

o There was a window broken on 21^st Street on Saturday morning.

· A lot of foot traffic can be expected in the warmer weather.

· Do not hesitate to call the community police officers. A third community police officer has been added. The TNA Newsletter contains contact phone numbers. The non-emergency number is 654-5151.

7. Howard began the candidates’ forum to include those individuals seeking seats on the Board of the Red Clay Consolidated School District.

· Background: The seats come up for election every five years. There is one seat available each in Nominating District A and Nominating District D.

· The candidates for District A are Gary Linarducci and Leah Davis.

· The candidates for District D are Charles Cavanaugh, Douglas Suiter and Kenneth Woods.

8. Leah Davis addressed the group:

· Thirty years in the district,

· Two children graduated from Red Clay,

· Twenty-two years as a teacher at Warner and Highland Schools,

· Volunteer as a reading specialist,

· Others say: “Let bad schools fail.” I say “no.”

· Come see our schools in the city.

· Why it is that Warner is no longer the gem of Red Clay? Answer: The district population is in transition.

· There has been sloppy bookkeeping and the juggling of money.

9. Gary Linarducci addressed the group:

· My kids are in Red Clay.

· I am a lawyer by profession.

· I understand what a good education does for people.

· Lived in the community for over 30 years.

· President of Graham senior center,

· Member of the 8th District Planning Council and the Wilmington Educations Task Force.

· Been on the Red Clay Board for four years, so I know that some issues need to be seriously addressed.

· The things I would do are:

o First, strengthen the finances,

o Second, protect the rights of parents,

o Third, address the drop-out rate.

10. Charlie Cavanaugh addressed the group:

· I have PTA experience,

· Joined the school board in 1981,

· The entire administration has changed, and I have been there the whole time.

· Put together Financial Review Board,

· Due to the referendum passed in February, Red Clay can purchase text books and fund school security.

· In high poverty schools, we have after school programs.

· After choice was allowed, the district grew out of balance. We need to address the problems caused by choice.

· Town meetings need to be continued.

11. Mr. Kenneth Woods addressed the group:

· I evaluate construction projects as my full time job.

· When Red Clay does construction projects while the students are in school, the construction project takes longer.

· Unlike previous speakers’ views, the Board has to micromanage.

· Given the problems in the school district, somebody was asleep at the wheel.

· The Board has to work with people.

· The school district needs to have a construction person on the Board.

· We need to have meetings about issues, instead of waiting for problems to arise.

12. The floor was opened for questions:

· Observation: Given TNA’s history with Prestige Academy, this community has difficulty in trusting the current Board.

· Answer given by Gary Linarducci: The seven persons on the Board do not always agree. There have been many heated discussions over the years. When the Superintendent says something, it should be honored. The Board should back him. Prestige Academy is moving from a Red Clay charter school to a state sponsored charter school.

· Answer given by Charles Cavanaugh: I listened to the community, and a lot of input in the future will be requested from the community.

· Answer given by Leah Davis: It all comes down to communication.

· Answer given by Kenneth Woods: I agree with Leah Davis, communication is important. Leah and I bring a new dimension to the Board.

13. Question form Norm Griffiths: Red Clay is leading the pack in formation of charter schools. What is the logic of DE College Prep going into the Christ Our King school building?

· Answer from Gary Linarducci: We have found the charter schools to be successful. The drop out rate is reduced. Delaware is among the top 10 states in the money it spends money on students. A charter school is the way of improving all the schools. Money should follow the students.

· Answer from Charlie Cavanaugh: Charter schools provide an option. The low enrollment in other high schools needs to be assessed. Students need to be attracted.

· Answer from Leah Davis: I am in support of charter schools. The drop out rate is not an issue in charter schools.

· Answer from Kenneth Woods: I agree with Leah Davis. Keep the money in our school district. Schools enrich the neighborhood.

14. Question from the floor: My daughter attends a charter school. Why do we not have a high school in Wilmington?

· Answer from Kenneth Woods: Cab Calloway School of the Arts got its start within a drama dept. We can create another high school in our district.

· Answer from Leah Davis: We need a high school in the city. We need a place closer to home.

· Answer from Charlie Cavanaugh: The discussions will continue. A high school in Wilmington will come, if people want it.

· Answer from Gary Linarducci: People are fighting to get their children in Wilmington Charter and Cab Calloway. Competition is good, because it leads to improvement.

15. Question from the floor: How are the high poverty schools to be addressed?

· Answer from Leah Davis: We need to differentiate instruction. We should see what these schools really need. For example, all schools should have a librarian, even if she is taken out of the unit count. We can begin a program of “partner schools.”

· Answer from Gary Linarducci: I am on the Wilmington Education Task Force. Children in poverty should get more money than students in more affluent schools.

· Answer from Leah Davis: The so called poverty schools tend to have more students who drop out.

· Answer from Kenneth Woods: Invite corporations and organizations to help poverty schools.

· Answer from Charlie Cavanaugh: The schools have had to develop action plans. They have been required to give needs assessments to the Board. We look at all the schools, in order to get schools on an equal playing field. The Board is not blind to the needs of the schools.

16. Question from the floor: How has the Delaware Military Academy negotiated the legal issues associated with prescreening?

· Answer from Charlie Cavanaugh: Three or four times the Board discussed the screening process. The Board has the option to renew or not renew a charter. We are proud of the charter schools in Red Clay.

· Answer from Gary Linarducci: The Attorney General’s Office has ruled that there is no problem. Delaware Military Academy is a rigorous academic school. It is not for everyone.

· Answer from Leah Davis: We would like to see all our schools as shinning stars.

· Answer from Kenneth Woods: I left private school to go to Conrad, then to Wilmington High School. Some children excel when pushed.

17. Each candidate had the opportunity for a wrap-up statement:

· Gary Linarducci: Education is necessary. Red Clay is better than other school districts.

· Kenneth Woods: Give me the opportunity. There will be more open communication. Look for a change.

· Leah Davis: I am passionate about kids and education. As a teacher, I would bring balance to the Board.

· Charlie Cavanaugh: I have spent twenty-seven years on the School Board. We are a unique school district. We are watchful. We will attract state funding.

18. John Rago, City Communications Director, addressed the group:

· Concerning sidewalks, the property owners are not responsible. The Department of Licenses and Inspections has been given money by the mayor to take care of sidewalks. We will do what is right for the pedestrians.

· An agreement was reached with Fraternal Order of Police for a three year agreement. It has yet to be ratified by the membership.

· The new handicap curbs on Baynard Boulevard made a mess of the grassy area. The same company will cultivate the soil and install sod.

· Baynard Stadium – The field will be renamed in honor of Al Cartwright, a sports writer at the News Journal for thirty-six years. He is ninety years old and lives in Virginia.

· My contact number is 576-2109.

· The three police academies will bring the force to 340 positions. It is a struggle to fill the academies. An issue is the salary compared with state and county law enforcement officers.

19. Howard addressed the group:

· Only one person has submitted his/her name for membership on the TNA Board.

20. Observation from the floor: People are not showing up for community watch, and phone calls yield disconnected numbers.

21. Tim Sharpe mentioned that Thursday, May 15 has been established as an appreciation party at Gallucio’s for all Community Watch volunteers.

22. Justin Wright announced that he is running for City Council.

23. The meeting was adjourned by 8:30 PM.