DAGSBORO — Simmering discussion and debate over school choice and overcapacity within the Indian River School District has reached the boiling point.



After lengthy discussion over school choice applications Monday night, IRSD’s board of education took the moratorium route, unanimously agreeing to no longer accept any school choice applications for any school that is over 85 percent capacity.

The moratorium, proposed by school board member Leolga Wright, is effective immediately.



“I think we need to take a step back … breathe … use the 85 percent. It’s good common sense,” Ms. Wright said.



The board’s vote was 8-0. Board members Rodney Layfield, who arrived later during the meeting, and W. Scott Collins were not present for moratorium vote.

School choice is a sensitive subject in the space-strapped Indian River district which is pursuing a third major capital improvement referendum for a new high school and classroom additions.



The moratorium presently impacts all but four of its 15 elementary, middle and high schools, based on July 23 enrollment data, provided by Preston “Pep” Lewis, IRSD’s administrator of student services.

The school board Monday night did approve choice applications for John M. Clayton Elementary, Phillip Showell Elementary and Southern Delaware School of the Arts but rejected all others.



The sweeping application rejection included three at Sussex Central High School that was at 117.6 percent capacity, and others for Georgetown Elementary (110.7 percent), Selbyville Middle (107 percent), Georgetown Middle (102 percent), North Georgetown Elementary (97.9), East Millsboro Elementary (97.7), Indian River High School (94.7), Millsboro Middle (91.8) and Lord Baltimore Elementary (89.7).



Overall, of the 53 applications submitted at the July 29 meeting, 40 had administration recommendation for approval.

Inconsistencies?

Board member Jim Hudson took issue with inconsistency in the choice application recommendations submitted from building principals and assistant superintendent Dr. Jay Owens for acceptance or denial.



“You (Ms. Wright) and I don’t always agree on school choice, but this doesn’t seem to be consistent. This doesn’t add up tonight,” said Mr. Hudson. “Everybody knows I want to work with the people that live in the district. I have made that point clear and I know some people don’t agree with it. I feel like we really should take care of our own kids in our district.”



“I am having a lot of trouble tonight,” Mr. Wright said. “This seems like we are all over the place. We’re accepting some, denying some. We’re here. We’re there. We need to do one way or the other. This just doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense, what we are doing here tonight.”



The Indian River School District utilizes Data Service Center’s web-based Delaware Public and Charter School Choice Application process.

Per present policy, school choice priority in the Indian River School District is given to the following categories: