Hanwell, Murray vie for Cape school board seat

Incumbent Janis Hanwell and challenger Ashley Murray will vie for the at-large seat in the Cape Henlopen school board election, set for Tuesday, May 11.

In July, the winning candidate will be sworn in for a five-year term that will expire June 30, 2026. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 11, at Cape High, Mariner Middle and Rehoboth Elementary schools. 

Eligible voters must be Delaware citizens age 18 and over who live in the Cape district. Proof of identity and address, such as a Delaware driver’s license or ID card, or other document such as a recent utility bill or rent receipt, must be provided. 

Candidates provided a short biography of themselves and answered four questions. Biographies and answers are provided in alphabetical order, and candidate responses were limited to 150 words or less.

Name: Janis Hanwell
Age: 63
Address: Just outside Lewes, Nassau Woods 
Family: Husband is a retired military officer, veteran of three operations (ODS, OEF, OIF) and a retired aerospace engineer. He is a Cape grad. My daughter works in Rehoboth in the restaurant industry. She is a Cape grad, talented artist, and the mom of three beautiful children. Two of them attend Cape schools and the youngest is under a year old. My stepson lives in Northern Virginia, works in the food industry and is also a Cape grad. My mom lives with us, making four generations living under the same roof!
Education: BFA in graphic arts & design and art education, MEd in K-12 special education and human resources, and EdD in educational leadership
Relevant employment: Retired from Cape Henlopen School District in 2010 as assistant superintendent and director of major capital projects including construction of Cape Henlopen High School. Retired founding executive director and now board of directors executive vice president of a nonprofit transportation co-op for seniors and adults with visual impairments serving Southern Delaware out of Milton. Independent consultant - marketing, outreach and grant writing.
Relevant experience: I started my teaching career in a private residential treatment center for children with moderate to severe disabilities before I came to Delaware and worked in the Cape Henlopen School District for 28 of my 31 years in the field. I have experience as a teacher (K-12), elementary and middle school assistant principal, K-12 special school principal, and district-level administrator. I have written and managed substantial state and federal grants, and have on-the-job experience supervising instructional programs (special education, Title 1, talented & gifted, and summer school). I have been involved in all aspects of the education system including building and districtwide staffing, transportation, discipline and safety, crisis intervention, facilities planning, school finance, and minor and major capital improvement projects.
Top reason for running: I have three grandchildren who will graduate from Cape, and with my experience, ability to listen, ask the right questions, and reputation for always considering what is best for all students, I truly believe Together We Can Achieve More! This pandemic has robbed many children of a well-rounded, complete education and forced teachers to “build the airplane while learning to fly.” I want to continue working to ensure resources and supports are available for staff and students, and be part of positive change, successful instructional programs, closing the achievement gap and transitioning out of this unprecedented time. A safe transition out of this pandemic requires continuity and hard work, and I want to ensure a diverse workforce, open and transparent communication, community and staff voice in the decision-making process, equal access and equity across the curriculum, and a strong commitment to do what is best for all children.

Name: Ashley Murray
Age: 40
Address: 116 New Road, Lewes
Family: Husband and three children ages 17, 12 and 6
Education: Associate’s degree in science, Delaware Technical Community College
Relevant employment: I am presently working for Allstate as an insurance agent. In my professional career, I meet people every day who have concerns about the Cape school quality and philosophy.
Relevant experience: As the mother of three, I have watched my children struggle through the last year. I have been forced to work from home and take a pay cut so that I could supervise my children while they struggled through remote and hybrid learning from home.
Top reason for running: Our children have suffered significant emotional and academic harm over the last year. It is time to place the needs of children first, and I feel I can be a facilitator of that change.

How do you propose to assist district efforts to improve equity in education, including diversity in curriculum?

Hanwell: It is something I have already committed to and participated in. In the last five years, I have been part of ensuring resources and supports are provided for a successful Spanish Immersion program; opening communication with minority communities and organizations; improving state test scores to close the achievement gap; transitioning to restorative practices; expanding multicultural participation in AP, Honors and Academic Challenge classes; strengthening mental health, wellness, and crisis intervention services; aligning math, ELA, and technology curricula across five elementary schools; and engaging in strategic planning. Still on my radar are prioritizing the district’s commitment to the AVID program for first-generation, college-bound students; continuing professional development on cultural responsiveness in our schools; and sticking to the schedule for piloting, reviewing, and aligning curriculum that includes a multicultural approach, incorporates and embraces diversity, enhances learning and research, and deepens in-class discussions.

Murray: A school’s primary task is to educate students. Right now, we are failing in that responsibility. Our students’ proficiencies in math and reading are simply unacceptable. As a district, we must first focus on our core requirements. The fact that the only curriculum-based question in this survey focuses on equity and not proficiency is a sign of the times we live in and the priorities that some hold. Our goal should be proficiency for every child, and that is the very definition of equity. I am open to any curriculum suggestions to broaden diversity, so long as the goal of proficiency is achieved. I have found that middle schools incorporated more information about indigenous peoples in social studies class relating to the exploration and development of our country, as well as successful African-Americans who helped write the history of our country in the discussion of slavery and freedom.

A March 2020 operating expense referendum was canceled due to the pandemic. Does the district need to revisit the need for a referendum? Explain why or why not.

Hanwell: Yes, hopefully by the fall, Cape will be able to revisit plans to go to public referendum for operating expenses. Over the last year, one thing is certain – growth and development are still occurring in the school district. New housing is popping up everywhere, medical facilities are expanding and hiring, real estate is a booming business, and families are still coming ... with children. The Cares Act funding Delaware schools have received is only temporary relief, and once past the crisis of this pandemic, added students mean Cape will need added funds to pay the local portion of salary and benefits for the increasing numbers of staff; supply needed technology, materials, and supplies; provide additional transportation; and cover increasing energy costs.

Murray: Whether or not a referendum is needed is entirely dependent on our present and forecasted operating expenses. Making this determination now is problematic, since the true operating budget will be greatly affected by the undetermined nature of education in the upcoming year. In addition, significant sums of federal COVID-19 aid were allocated to school districts during the last year, which will require budgets to be reassessed and rebalanced. As we return to in-person learning, now would be an excellent time to think outside the box and consider ways to reduce operating expenses. We have a responsibility to the taxpayers to be efficient, equitable, transparent and accountable.

Can the district increase students’ in-person attendance while following state requirements, including distancing in schools and on buses? How?

Hanwell: Cape was the only district to open last fall with plans in place for full-time in-person and remote options for K-5, and full-time remote and hybrid options for 6-12, fulfilling all requests at that time. Since late November, Cape has been slowly accepting more students into in-person and hybrid options, and will continue to do so with careful consideration for state guidelines and the governor’s updates. In addition to a slow influx of students, secondary students following hybrid schedules (two days in person, one day remote) recently began attending an extra in-person day every other week. It is the district’s hope to continue adding more opportunities for in-person instruction through the end of the school year. Planning has begun for the fall, and I am optimistic for a full-time, in-person recommendation. However, I expect to see alternate plans developed in the event that increased concerns come to light. 

Murray: We can certainly increase in-person attendance. First, we must look critically at state guidelines and verify their validity. It is our responsibility as a board to peruse all avenues to lessen those restrictions for which there is little or no evidence. Many restrictions are overly cautious and do not adequately balance the obvious harm children are suffering emotionally and academically. The loosening of unjustified restrictions would allow us to bring back all students for in-person learning. Delaware’s COVID-19 restrictions are some of the most restrictive in the country, and given that nearly 80 percent of our high-risk population has been fully or partially immunized, it is time to move forward. Numerous other states have had continuous in-person education, and that is the model we should strive for.

How should the district prepare to reorganize enrollment areas for implementation once the middle school under construction in Lewes is complete?

Hanwell: As a former administrator, I was responsible for overseeing the district’s change from three to four elementary schools. The current board has already started asking for and publicly reviewing plans based on growth and development, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic makeup, and the amount of time students would be on a bus. We will look at demographic data provided by the census and boots on the ground data collected by our facilities and transportation managers, the superintendent, and consultant specialists who will pin every student in every grade, in every development already in attendance, as well as younger children who will be coming and estimates for the developments we know will be coming online over time. The plan will be developed with equity in mind, keeping the demographic makeup of the middle schools as similar as possible without keeping any students on buses for extremely long rides to and from school. 

Murray: Obviously, once construction is complete, district lines need to be redrawn to balance the number of students in each school according to geography and good demographics.