Cape school board candidates share stances on key topics

The Cape school board elections will take place Tuesday, May 13. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Cape Henlopen High, Mariner Middle and Rehoboth Elementary schools, and Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company Station 2.

Two candidates are vying for the at-large seat: incumbent William “Bill” Collick and Chris Lovenguth. Three are vying for the Area C seat: Andy Lewis, Patty Maull and Laura Parsons. Jason Bradley is running uncontested for the Area B seat and will thus be automatically seated without an election.

School board elections are nonpartisan. Eligible voters can cast a vote for any candidate, regardless of where they reside in the district.

The Cape Gazette asked the five candidates in the two elections to submit their responses to the following questions. Candidate responses are listed in alphabetical order by seat.

At-large candidates

Name: Bill Collick

Age: 73

Occupation: Retired from a 50-year career working in education and school administration, both in the Cape district and at Delaware State University 

Town of residence: Milton

Length of residence in the district: A lifelong resident, Collick is a member of Cape High’s first graduating class.

Family: Wife Nancy; two children, Billy and Dana; and grandchildren Jaia, a recent Howard University graduate, Ma’Kena, a sixth-grader at Frederick Thomas Middle, and Harper, a second-grader at Lewes Elementary.

Organization affiliations: Cape school board current member; Pathways to Success board president; the MERIT Program; Cape mentoring and tutoring programs co-creator; Habitat for Humanity; Lewes Historical Society; Rosa Health Center; United Way of Delaware; Delaware Arthritis Foundation; Faith Elementary School; West Side New Beginnings; YMCA; Muscular Dystrophy Association; Big Brothers of Delaware; The Hornet Club at Delaware State University, co-founder; DSU annual celebrity golf tournament; member of several Delaware and DSU athletics halls of fame; former Sussex Tech and Cape High football coach; former DSU head football coach with a 12-year tenure, now the most celebrated coach in DSU football history, setting the record for most coaching wins while ensuring majority of players earned degrees; and former DSU director of athletics and wrestling coach

Top reason for running: “I’ve really been a product of the adult support I received over the years in school in the Cape district, and I believe being a board member is an opportunity to offer that same support to a new generation.”

Name: Chris Lovenguth

Age: 64

Occupation: Salesman for NAPA Auto Parts

Town of residence: Milton

Length of residence in the district: Born and raised

Family: Three children and nine grandchildren

Organization affiliations: National Automotive Parts Association and The Crossing Church

Top reason for running: I want kids to get a great education and to make sure that the teachers have everything they need to help the children.

Area C candidates

Name: Andy Lewis

Age: 62

Occupation: Technical director for Lewis Research Inc.

Town of residence: Lewes

Length of residence in the district: 31 years

Family: Wife Carrie, who’s been the attendance person at Cape High since 2015, and two sons, Danny and Wes, who graduated from Cape in 2015 and 2019

Organization affiliations: Cape Henlopen Citizens Budget Oversight Committee (since 2019); District 3 Little League administrator (since 2017); Boardgame Players Association - board chairman since 2017, board member since 2000

Top reason for running: I have a passion for the success of all kids. I believe the board could use someone with my background and different perspective. As an engineer, I deal with facts and numbers daily. They drive my analysis and decision making. I have over 50 years of cumulative service on a variety of boards including the Cape school board. I understand the workings of boards and my role as a board member. Finally, I have the personal confidence to raise or argue for a point of view that is correct for the situation regardless of its popularity or my opinion.

Name: Patty Maull

Age: 42

Occupation: Hairstylist

Town of residence: Rehoboth

Length of residence in the district: 27 years

Family: Husband, who’s a fellow Cape graduate, and four children: twin daughters currently at Cape High, daughter working at Love Creek Elementary, son working in the mental health field in Maryland

Organization affiliations: Over the years, I’ve volunteered as a classroom mom, helped with lunch and recess, and worked closely with our homeless liaison during the holiday gift drives. I served three years as the Cape Band Boosters president, helping lead numerous successful fundraisers and providing crucial support to our band program. Today, I mentor two students each week, one at Beacon and one at Cape, continuing my commitment to hands-on support for our young people.

Top reason for running: I’m running for school board because I believe in protecting the policies that keep our students safe, supported and prepared for success. I will be a strong advocate for our students, our staff, and our entire community, ensuring every decision we make puts their well-being and future first always.  

Name: Laura Parsons

Age: 43

Occupation: Aesthetic nurse, owner of Parsons Aesthetics LLC, working in coordination with Women’s Wellness of Southern Delaware

Town of residence: Lewes

Length of residence in the district: My husband Eric and I moved to Lewes 13 years ago and love the warm, tight-knit, safe and friendly community that it is. There’s no other place we’d want to raise our family.

Family: Husband Eric and three sons at Lewes Elementary: Teddy (kindergarten), Levi (third grade) and Rex (fifth grade)

Organization affiliations: Active member of Seaside Jewish Community, including involvement in kids’ Sunday school; leader of local professional nursing symposium focused on uniting and fostering a collaborative and supportive professional community; volunteer at Lewes Elementary (holiday shops, book fairs, field trips, career days, sending supplies to teachers, selling concessions and volunteering backstage at school plays and other events); and active participant in my sons’ education. As a busy person, I’m highly capable of supporting the needs of my family, and my school family, while finding many opportunities to support the community as well. 

Top reason for running: I care about all kids. I want to be part of a leadership team that’s committed to achieving great things, and I want to bridge the gaps in the community. I’m adamant that every Cape child and teacher receives the support, encouragement, and physical and emotional resources they need to reach their full potential and achieve their wildest dreams. The quality of our curriculum, competency of our staff, effective and safe use of our technology, and facilities in which the children learn are all critical to their achievement. We’re building the foundation for the rest of their lives, and we must get it right.

How should the school district go about financially managing the increasing costs associated with a growing student population?

Bill Collick: The school district should go about this by working to get a certificate of necessity from the state and/or getting the county to enact a building impact fee for all of its school districts. I believe we have a community that would support us if they were to witness the state award us a certificate of necessity (which means we would get a 60-40 split from the state to fund needs). I also think we need to continue informing our community and parents, and showing as transparently as possible the need for funding, so we can continue to maintain an effective and thriving district.

Chris Lovenguth: There are going to have to be some impact fees with all of these new developments coming in. A referendum cannot do it alone.

Andy Lewis: The board only has two options open to it. The first is they can do a one-time increase of up to 10% with the implementation of tax reassessment. Other than that, they have to go to the citizens with a referendum. The alternative is budget cuts.

Patty Maull: Addressing funding requires bold leadership, collaboration and a commitment to equity. It is important that we work together as board members to advocate at the state level to ensure our district receives equitable funding based on student needs and not just enrollment numbers.

Laura Parsons: A referendum must be passed. If the district can’t make ends meet, hard decisions – cutting staff, eliminating programs, teachers not getting raises, etc. – will have to be made. We can’t let that happen. These cuts directly affect the quality of our children’s education and the educators’ ability to teach.

To help alleviate the tax burden on residents when new schools are needed, county council must implement developer school impact fees – one-time fees collected from developers to pay for increased school capacity as a result of residential growth. Developers in every Delaware county except Sussex pay this fee. Given Sussex County’s rapid growth, the implementation of this fee is essential.

Besides growth, what is the biggest issue facing the district?

Bill Collick: I believe that besides growth, the biggest issue facing the district is the inability to pass a referendum. I voted for both of the referendums and was disappointed that they both failed. I believe that we will need to obtain a certificate of necessity from the state, as well as be able to better show our communities that growth, the inability to purchase land for the future, and escalating costs and supplies will ultimately take away the effectiveness of our school district, thus not allowing our students to reach their full potential. 

Chris Lovenguth: One of the biggest things facing the district is making sure we have qualified teachers in each area, so that the children get a quality education. 

Andy Lewis: We don't have a lot of big issues. Funding is an issue, but that isn't exclusive of growth. This is not to say we don't have areas where we can improve, but I don't see these as issues. We always need to do better, otherwise we are doing a disservice to our students.

Patty Maull: Mental health is undoubtedly one of the most critical issues facing not only our schools, but schools across the country. When students struggle with their mental health, it impacts their ability to learn, build relationships and succeed both in and out of the classroom. Ensuring that students have access to proper mental health resources, support systems and a safe, inclusive environment is essential for their overall well-being and academic success. We must prioritize mental health by providing adequate resources for students, training for staff and fostering a culture that promotes understanding and support. Addressing mental health is not just an option, it's a necessity.

Laura Parsons: First, we must safeguard students’ and teachers’ mental wellness by having more onsite mental health professionals and social workers to take proactive measures and assist in times of need. Second, as we’re giving children access to state-of-the-art technology, we must teach them how to use it safely and effectively. District oversight is paramount. We must closely examine all technology policies to find areas for improved safety and better use of time. Third, we must collaborate more with teachers to better identify their needs. It’s crucial to create a safe, perhaps anonymous platform for them to express concerns. If teachers feel unsupported, it hinders their ability to effectively teach our children.

What can the school board do to ensure students exceed state averages for testing?

Bill Collick: As it relates to ensuring that our students exceed state averages for testing, our board will need to continue to be in concert with our superintendent and our superintendent be in concert with our building leaders for the expectation of building a culture of one student at a time receiving support through teaching, mentoring and tutoring. For example, the students at the high school are also able to get adult support and help daily during the in-school advisory period, as a result of collaboration between teachers, students and tutors.

Chris Lovenguth: We have to make sure that our teachers have everything possible that they need. We need to get back to the basics, get off the iPads and have work on paper, so the children are using their brains.

Andy Lewis: We already exceed the state average and actually bring the average up several points despite only being one of 19 districts. The keys are twofold. One is to continue to improve the curriculum to prepare the students. Second is to continue and increase assistance to the lower-performing students to raise their scores.

Patty Maull: As an elected board member, I would focus on several key areas to help improve student achievement and contribute to raising our state's national ranking. First, I would advocate for all students to have access to high-quality instruction, intervention services and enrichment opportunities. This includes expanding access to tutoring, mental health services and personalized learning to meet the diverse needs of every student. My goal would be to make sure every student has a high-quality education that prepares them for success, ultimately helping to elevate our district's performance and our state's national ranking.

Laura Parsons: The great news is that Cape Henlopen leads the state in its testing scores. However, we need to set the bar higher, and hold our students and staff to the standards of the nation’s highest-performing districts and states. We must look not solely at data outputs, but inputs as well. We must examine the barriers to education, including poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, overcrowding, and social and emotional health, and work to mitigate those. We must also better support our teachers so that they can effectively teach our students. Reducing classroom distractions, including cellphones, would enhance teaching and learning.

DEI policies are in the spotlight at the national level. How should the Cape Henlopen School District handle diversity, equity and inclusion policy?

Bill Collick: The Cape Henlopen School District has a mission statement to celebrate the diversity of our students, staff and community. It states, “We cultivate compassionate and innovative thinkers, by providing every student with a welcoming, safe and equitable school community that is affirming and inclusive. Our promise to all students is excellence, equity and responsiveness. Every student, every classroom, every day.” That is how the Cape Henlopen School District handles DEI policies.

Chris Lovenguth: The school needs to follow the same exact things that the state and the federal government are doing.

Andy Lewis: We have had a diverse community for years and have addressed this through policy already. I don't see us going back on this, so if the federal government cuts funding because of our stance, we're going to have to figure out how to deal with it, either through referendum or budget cuts.

Patty Maull: I will always support diversity, equity and inclusion in our public schools, because every student, regardless of background, deserves a fair shot at success. DEI is about ensuring all students feel respected, safe and supported so they can reach their full potential. It's about preparing our students for the future and helping every student thrive.

Laura Parsons: I believe that all children and staff, regardless of nationality, race, gender identity or sexuality, deserve access to a high-quality, safe and inclusive education and working environment. Fortunately, Cape has in-depth policies and procedures to ensure this right for everyone. During the last few school board meetings, I observed that the current board is examining all policies to ensure that the Cape promise, “Every Student, Every Classroom, Every Day,” is upheld with fidelity, regardless of what’s happening at the federal level. It’s our responsibility to decipher what we should do for the betterment of our community, always.