Cape school board considers naming Sussex Consortium building
A new name may adorn the Sweetbriar Road building housing the Sussex Consortium program.
Cape Henlopen school board members discussed naming facilities Rehoboth Elementary School and Sussex Consortium at the regular monthly meeting Sept. 27. The possibility of a name change for Rehoboth Elementary was quickly quashed, but opinions varied on naming the Consortium building.
Superintendent Bob Fulton said he would not recommend changing the name, but would support the board’s choice. “Our policy has changed, and we’re not obligated to suggest a name change,” he said. “They are existing schools. I don’t think it’s confusing to name the building the same thing as the program; the same thing makes sense.”
Board member Andy Lewis said the district has never had a building called the Sussex Consortium.
Currently in the Lewes School on Savannah Road, the program was previously housed in the Fred Thomas Building on DuPont Avenue in Lewes. Most Consortium students attend the Lewes School, but Consortium students are also in classrooms throughout the district’s elementary, middle and high schools. “The Sussex Consortium is a program, not so much a building,” Lewis said. “It’s a program with multiple sites.”
Board member Janis Hanwell said renaming the school would be a difficult task because of many differing opinions.
Lewis said, “Just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look at it.” Board member Jason Bradley agreed. “We could just rename the building, not the program,” Bradley said.
Lewis suggested forming a committee to receive naming suggestions. Board Vice President Jessica Tyndall agreed, and stressed the importance of proactive communication with the community about any name change. Fulton said he would provide input on a process and possible committee members at the next board meeting.
The board decided naming suggestions would be welcome from all county residents, since the Consortium is an option to all Sussex County school district students with an educational classification of autism.
Director of Capital Projects Brian Bassett said construction is ahead of schedule. Building construction is completely funded by the state. Set to open in fall 2019, the new building will house approximately 200 students, and about 100 more Consortium students will be located in classrooms throughout the district.
Sussex Consortium celebrates 40 years
What began in 1975 as a pilot project between Children’s Beach House and Cape Henlopen School District has grown into a program that serves over 300 Sussex County students.
This year, the Sussex Consortium celebrates 40 years. At its outset, 12 students were served from three Sussex County school districts. Today, the program includes the Sussex County branch of the Delaware Autism Program, an Intensive Learning Center, Cape Henlopen Career Opportunity Program and Cape’s Little Vikings.
The Sussex Consortium staff of more than 200 employees serves students in the Lewes School, H.O. Brittingham and Love Creek Elementaries, Mariner and Beacon Middle Schools, and Cape High. The Consortium receives state funding and tuition funding from Sussex County school districts that send students to the school.
The program has earned state and national accolades including the Wendy F. Miller Autism Society of America National Recognition Award as Autism Program of the Year in 2002.
To wish the Sussex Consortium a happy birthday, cards can be sent to the Lewes School, 820 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958. Cards will be displayed in the front lobby for students to see.
