DA Preps For A New School Year

DELHI - The Delaware Academy Central School District Board of Education held its final meeting on Aug. 24th before the 2026-2027 school year begins. The first day of school is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8th.

The following dates are scheduled for orientations: Aug. 26th for sixth grade, Aug. 27th for ninth grade, and Aug. 31st for the Pre-K and Kindergarten round-up. August 27th is new staff orientation.

The special education office has moved to the second floor, room 214.

The board adopted the student handbook and safety plan for the 2026-2027 school year. The board anticipates making adjustments to the student handbook later this year.

The $10,784,446.25 tax levy was adopted due between Sept. 1 and Nov. 6. The following penalty fees were scheduled: Sept. 1-30, no penalty; Oct. 1-31, 2% penalty; Nov. 1-6, 3% penalty.

Substitute teacher rates were adopted with no changes from January.

Superintendent Carey Shultz presented an overview of major annual federal and state grants which help fund the special education department. Federal grant Title I of roughly $194,000 and IDEA section 611 grant of $235,213 are both used for staffing and benefits associated with the department. The IDEA Section 619 grant of $ 6,840 subsidizes students receiving county services. Federal grant Title II Part A of $23,000 is used for staff professional development. The federal grant Title IV Part A of $14,866 is applied to a technology or AP teacher salary.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s universal Pre-K initiative to ensure a seat for every 4-year-old increased funding per student from $6,000 to $10,000. Shultz said the district has hired a teaching assistant and opened its pre-K class size from 18 to 25.

The board accepted a donation from Liliana Biggs for a buddy bench to be placed on the elementary school playground as her Girl Scout Silver Award project. Biggs also donated $450 of the remaining funds raised to purchase indoor play equipment for rainy-day recess.

The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28, at 6 p.m. in the High School Media Library Center.