By Craig Anderson

FELTON — Lake Forest School District supporters hoped for the best in Saturday’s referendum vote.

They certainly weren’t disappointed by the weather during the annual I Love Lake Forest Day.

Mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures were part of the public event at Lake Forest High, held at the same time voters cast ballots at poll locations.

Children’s activities were easy to find, along with community and state organizations, and school-district related ventures,

The festivities were ongoing as voters visited polling places to determined whether the district funding for a variety of needs.

At the end of the day, the referendum passed by a vote of 635-331.

The school district said the referendum would raise $2 million in operating revenue over a three-year- period if approved.

Prior to the vote, the district outline what the referendum would support:
• Expand school safety and security initiatives including adding constables in schools.
• Recruiting and retaining highly qualified staff.
• Increasing transportation costs necessitated by higher State contract rates.
• Increasing costs of substitute teachers and paraprofessionals.
• Continuance of ongoing programs (textbooks, instructional programs and supplies, maintenance of facilities).
• Technology sustainment (essential technology maintenance and replacement for students in grades K-12).

Bonita Benson already had her mind made up about the district. She entered it as a kindergartner in 1978 and graduated as a senior, and watched her two children pass through.

Ms. Benson’s granddaughter is a first-grader at Lake Forest South Elementary School.

All the children thrived, Ms. Benson said.

“To me it’s the best district in Delaware, the best district anywhere” she said. “I’m biased of course but it’s a really great school district.

“It’s a great school because fundamentally, they teach exactly what they say they’re teaching and the children are able to grasp the information. The teachers are great.

“What I love so much is they are more interested in a holistic approach.

“It’s not just teach, teach, teach. They care about the student.”