Debra is beginning her second term on the Brandywine School Board and has been its president since 2008. A member of the district’s Finance Committee, which oversees a $140 million budget, she is proud to note that the Brandywine School District spends a higher percentage of funds on direct student instruction and less on support and operations than the state average.
As a school board president, Debra understands how legislative constraints can limit the flexibility of a school district to use funds as efficiently as possible. The role of the state government is not to micromanage the decisions of local school districts, but rather to hold them accountable for results and ensure the taxpayers are getting the most for their money.
The $119 million Race to the Top grant recently awarded to the state gives us an enormous opportunity to improve the quality of education in Delaware for years to come. Having great schools gives our state a stronger workforce and helps attract businesses to Delaware to grow our economy. It’s essential that the Race to the Top funds and other public money be spent wisely—a challenge Debra has met by helping to manage the district’s education budget for the past five years.
Delaware Classroom
