Bob Fulton

By Brian Gilliland

LEWES — Love Creek Elementary School will host the first of three information sessions about an upcoming Cape Henlopen School District referendum Tuesday.

Starting at 6 p.m., superintendent Bob Fulton will give a presentation, which will be followed by a question-and-answer period.

The district’s proposal seeks a combined increase of $0.549 to the property tax rate.

One portion of the plan regards purchasing opportunities. This includes a $15 million buy of 102 acres, $21.5 million for a new district office, $6 million for a transportation maintenance facility and about $36.1 million for a 38,200-square-foot indoor swimming pool, or natatorium.

The total to taxpayers for these purchases is set at $0.214 per $100 of a property’s assessed value. This, combined with an operating expense ask of $0.335, becomes the $0.549 increase.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Mr. Fulton said he will present more detail about the costs, how they break down and how continuing growth in Sussex County softens the blow when it comes to funding projects of this nature.

“I will provide background on why the referendum is needed and how it can help students and the community in a variety of ways,” he said.

The proposed district office and the purchase of the land to put it on are likely in response to the state’s late 2023 denial of expansion plans for Cape Henlopen High School. In the refusal, officials said such construction would require additional parking and stormwater management space, and that could be most easily achieved by relocating the current administration building.

Once those steps are complete, Mr. Fulton said the district could resubmit another plan for additional high school classrooms.

Following his talk, attendees will be invited to ask questions of the superintendent directly. Comments can also be sent ahead of time to communications@cape.k12.de.us or by calling 302-645-6686.

Love Creek Elementary is at 19488 John J. Williams Highway in Lewes.

Two other informational meetings are scheduled — one March 11 at Milton Elementary School and the last March 18 at Lewes Elementary School. Both are set for 6 p.m.

The referendum itself is March 26, with voting taking place 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Cape Henlopen High, Mariner Middle School and Rehoboth Elementary School.

The last referendum in Cape Henlopen was in 2018, during which voters approved a 25-cent increase in the tax rate. A planned 2020 vote was canceled due to the pandemic.