Lawsuits · Least Six Other States Have Teacher Are Cases in Other States Where Threats of Lawsuits Protection Statutes
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•:• Greater Newark's Hometown Newspaper Since 191 0 ....• ,, ~ 92nd Year, Issue 25 I C) 2001 July 13, 2001 Newark, Delaware • 50¢ It's 5 p.m. - Public is Little League do you know welcome at All-Star action where your pony club. gets underway. mother is? State teachers protected in .. cases of 'discipline' lawsuitS · least six other states have teacher are cases in other states where Threats of lawsuits protection statutes. students have taken their teachers Minner said the Teacher to court. State Senator David by students con Protection Act is especially Sokola (D-Newark), who Sll,OU tributes to less dis important now, at a time when the sored the legislation, threat of being sued effects some Delaware General Asse~ cipline in schools teachers' ability to maintain members agreed that the law t healthy learning environments in make it easier for teachers td By KATY CIAMARICONE their classrooms. their jobs. "Some teachers have told me "If there's a fight in the cla$ NEWARK POST STAFF WRITER that they are afraid to discipline room, obvio.usly, the teache.rl Delaware teachers now have students in the way they know first response is going to be to itt more authority to discipline their they should, because they are and break it up," Sokola sai&. students without facing frivolous threatened - sometimes by the "We've heard of cases where the lawsuits, according to a bill students themselves - with law kid said, 'well, (the teacher) signed by Governor Ruth Ann suits," Minner said. "If a teacher pulled me away and it hurt,' aRd Minner. is afraid to teach, then how can threatened to sue." Senate Bill 70 will help teach we expect our children to learn?'' But, under the new legislation,; ers regain control of their class a judge could refuse to hear suclf rooms, local politicians said. See related story on student a suit, on the basis that tfie Also known as the Teacher conduct, Page 3. teacher's actions were not unrea NEWARK POST PHOTO BY CHRISTINE E. SERIO Protection Act, the law states a sonable for the situation. teacher can not be sued for disci There was no record of any The Teacher Protection A : It was 'back to the future' as Victorian-garbed volunteers mingled with visitors at the Rockwood such lawsuit against a teacher in does not specifically state which Mansion during New Castle County's Ice Cream Festival last weekend. plining students inside the class room, unless the punishment is Delaware when the bill was first "shocking to the conscience." At introduced in March, but there See LAWSUITS, 2 ..... · Surplus state land Technology Patk __; denied street access nearing capacity Gilberti Lane subdivision agree Del DOT said pur ment calls for only six curbcuts expect completion site at and Marrows onto Gilberti Lane (and this) roads in Newark was developed chase contingent would make seven." of last building . by the Governor's 1986 High Ladutko said the lot was not Technology Task Force to devel on city ~pproval part of the Gilberti Lane subdivi withing two years op new high-tech industries in sion. and not bound by any Delaware. By MARY E.. PETZAK restrictions in that subdivision By MARY E. PETZAK The first two buildings were agreement. In making the dedicated in 1993, and following NEWARK POST STAFF WRITER request, he added that he NEWARK POST STAFF WRITER the dedication of two more build believed there would be "little, if ings in 2000, the complex is now A request for a curbcut which NEWARK POST PHOTO BY KATY CIAMARICONE ne of Newark's quiet any, impact on the traffic flow • success stories is with home to 30 high-tech businesses would have meant development lot." According to city officials and local residents, the "seventh lot" on which focus on biotechnology, of a lot currently· owned by the into Gilberti Lane past this in view of completion. According to Ladutko, he Gilberti Lane has numerous problems to overcome before anyone The Delaware Technology Park, information technologies and state of Delaware off Anna Way planned to build a home for could build there. · advanced materials. in Newark failed to get approval a partnership between the state's resale on the lot and was willing government, academia and lead A 72,000-square-foot building in city council on Monday. Lopata noted that the 11,025 development was approved in for the Delaware Biotechnology Newark businessman Todd to deed restrict the lot to that square-foot lot meets the RS 1991 and he wanted to know ing industries, will be built out effect. "This lot is larger in within two years. Institute, opposite the College Ladutko asked the city. to grant zoning minimum requirement, why the curbcut was not put in Square Shopping Center at .the curbcut for a lot adjoining a square footage than some others but "it's awkward shape appears then. "I'm very curious about J. Michael Bowman, chair on Gilberti Lane," he explained. man and president of the DTP, Library Avenue and Wyoming six-home development known to make variance requests neces that," Godwin said. Road, opened in November "However, the type and size of sary." According to the New Castle said the construction on the tech s Gilberti Lane. Ladutko told the home that could be con 2000. According to director ouncil he has a contract to pur In addition, the public works County Recorder of Deeds nology park's last building is structed does not completely ful expected within a year. David Weir, the OBI's main chase the land from the state, department indicated drainage office, the state of Delaware focus is on functional genornics fill the vision I have for the flows had to be retained on the acquired the lot from Francis "We're looking for at least subject to obtaining the access. property." or the function genes perform in "The lot is zoned RS and con site, and a utility easement and Jeannine Glynn in one large anchor tenant, now, as Ladutko said he would seek well as start-up companies," organisms. forms to all city of Newark zon would be needed across an November 1986. Lopata said he Bowman said faculty from the setback variances to build pur adjoining lot in Gilberti Lane for believed it was transferred when Bowman said in June, "and ing requirements to construct a suant to his "vision." University of Delaware, single-family home," said water and sewer connections. expect to start construction on a City planning director Roy Ladutko. "However... the Mayor Hal Godwin said the See GILBERTI, 3 .... 70,000-to-1 00,000-square-foot building next year for completion See TECH PARK, 2 .... Newark Charter School on course for opening NEWS 1-3, 5 school's parents," he said. "We three-period humanities class week. Fifth- and sixth-graders students will have a group guid All staff members had our first faculty meeting each day. This class will cover will study three foreign Ian ance class once a week. The POLICE REPORTS 2 already and the energy and content that is often taught sepa- guages during the year in an guidance program will be coor certified to teach excitement in the room was rately in reading. language arts exploratory class. Seventh - dinated by Vicki Seifred, who OPINION 4 in their fields incredible." and social studies classes. graders will study either French was named Middle Sc~oo) Currently, the Newark Charter Students also will have a math or Spanish in greater depth. Counselor of the Year. Also join- ARTBEAT 5 By MARY E. PETZAK School is full and another 250 class and a science class every Fifth- and sixth-grade students students are on a waiting list. day. Music, art and physical edu- will have a weekly class in See CHARTER, 3 .... LIFESTYLE 6 NEWARK POST STAFF WRITER Meece said parents have been cation will be taught twice-a- speech and communication. All able to raise $210,000 the past ~--------------~ DIVERSIONS 7 Newark Charter School's first year to help the school open. This faculty and staff are on board and week, Meece said he had been SPORTS 8-9 ready for September. notified that Chase Bank in According to school director Newark would be presenting a OBITUARIES 10 Gregory Meece, 28 staff mem check for the school today. bers have been hired for the char "This is the single biggest PEOPLENEWS 12 ter school expected to have 430 financial commitment we've students in grades 5, 6 and 7 on CROSSWORD 12 received from anyone," said opening day, Sept. 4. Its tempo Meece. "They will also be part rary facility at 924 Barksdale Rd. CLASSIFIEDS 81~4 nering the school in other ways, is expected to be completed soon. like providing mentors, for Meece said all full-time facul instance." ty members are certified to teach The funds from the company in their fields and half of the mean more than just dollars for teachers have a master's or high expenses. "This is the second er degree. ''This staff brings with local company - Rodel already it a wealth of experience," said offered support - to back us in Meece. "They are corning to this," said M~ece. "It helps when Newark Charter School from you're trying to raise additional public schools, non-public dollars to be able to say 'two schools and charter schools," he other big companies think we're said. "They are all top notch." worth the investment." Meece said he was fortunate School officials stated the to be able to staff the entire Newark Charter School will pro school from scratch.