Maryland Lower Shore
The school year officially begins this week with more than 860-thousand students K-thorugh-12 with another 250-thousand children in pre-kindergarten.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that among the changes this year Somerset County begins the fall with a new superintendent John Gaddis who replaced Marjorie Miles on an interim basis.
There are also new principals in the county as well as a 15-cent increase in most of the school breakfast and lunch prices.
Beefed up security will include panic buttons and ID card sign-in procedures.
Meanwhile, in Wicomico County stepped security will include 53 bullet proof dry-eraser boards donated by Hardwire LLC of Pocomoke County.
Meal prices are expected to go up by 5 cents for lunch.
In Worcester County there will be an armed security deputy at each school and front doors that operate with electronic entry systems and visitor identification systems.
Snow Hill High School will see renovation and addition by early next year.
Indian River School District
When students return to class in the Indian River School District armed safety monitors will be at 14 of the district’s 15 schools.
For G.W. Carver Center the Delaware State Police will provide a resource officer.
All of the 14 armed safety monitors are retired law enforcement officers with permits to carry guns.
The Wilmington News Journal reports that the safety monitor will wear a gray polo shirt with the district logo and the words “School Safety Monitor” embroidered on the left breast.
They will be paid as contract employees at a rate of $25 an hour or $200 a day.
They will be at the schools for 176 days.
