Joint Capital Improvement Committee Meeting
TL;DR
The Joint Committee heard capital budget presentations from the Department of Education, the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical Community College, focusing on facility needs, IT infrastructure, CN backlog, and workforce/healthcare initiatives. Committee members asked for follow‑up materials and analysis (rubrics, project backlogs, IT/Infinite Campus fixes, lead testing reports) and the committee will reconvene in June to mark up the bond bill.
Topics covered
School facilities and Certificates of Necessity (CN)IT infrastructure and connectivity (DOE/DTI)Infinite Campus implementation and special education documentationDeferred maintenance and minor capital fundingHigher education capital requests (UD, DSU, DelTech)Rural Health Transformation and healthcare workforce programsWorkforce/dual enrollment pathways and seed scholarship
Key decisions
- Department of Education reported one fully locally funded Certificate of Necessity (New Castle County Vocational‑Technical land acquisition) was accepted this year.
- Committee scheduled to convene in June to mark up the 2027 bond bill.
- Committee acknowledged the Governor's FY2027 capital recommendations presented (including DOE minor/enhanced minor capital lines and DOE IT infrastructure request outlined in the presentation).
Action items
- Brian Ray (Associate Sec. for Finance & Operations, DOE): Provide the committee a post‑meeting list summarizing Infinite Campus items addressed (patches/upgrades, translation work for special education/IEPs), outstanding issues, and vendor engagement steps.
- Sec. Martin (Department of Education): Deliver a full readout to the committee on DOE actions addressing Infinite Campus and the statewide IT infrastructure remediation (year‑one work, five‑year plan, metrics, and whether additional state funding will be requested).
- Brian Ray (Associate Sec. for Finance & Operations, DOE): Share the CN prioritization rubric with committee members and provide an updated list of outstanding Certificates of Necessity (the ~$1.5B backlog) plus a rounded, updated deferred maintenance estimate for districts.
- Brian Ray (Associate Sec. for Finance & Operations, DOE): Confirm and report back to Rep. Debra Heffernan on the land acquisition status for the Bush School (Brandywine School District).
- Brian Ray (Associate Sec. for Finance & Operations, DOE): Provide details requested by Sen. John "Jack" Walsh on the Delaware Skills Center CN (land status and project details) and tie out local funding information.
- Brian Ray (Associate Sec. for Finance & Operations, DOE): Provide the committee a report on lead‑in‑water testing: amounts spent under the initial Filter First program, which districts/buildings have completed testing and filter installations, and the ongoing three‑year testing schedule and funding status.
- UD President: Share the University of Delaware economic impact study with the committee and provide data on the number and proportion of UD faculty/staff who are residents of Delaware.
- Carol Kissel (UD EVP, Finance & Administration): Provide documentation to the committee confirming federal funding status and any Department of Commerce extension details for the SABR Center project.
- Tony Allen (DSU President): Provide the committee DSU's design book (if not already provided), and an updated cost breakdown, timeline, and private/donor commitments for Phase One of the athletic transformation and the remaining funding gap.
- DelTech President: Update the committee on progress securing a $2,500,000 congressional appropriation for the Georgetown dental hygiene clinic, and provide the expected design/construction timeline if appropriation is secured.