1. Replace the DSTP. An assessment system should be integrated into the instructional process and provide information for use by the teachers and administrators to adapt the instruction, present it again and reassess to ensure our students comprehend the material. The test should also provide a benchmark to compare our students against those in other states and countries.
   
   
2. Streamline programs to save money and serve more children. We did it in the Capital School District by combining the PEAK and ILC programs, with one principal, not two, and sharing support staff. As a result we are serving more children more cost effectively.
   
   
3. Provide the resources and facilities needed to keep student teacher ratios low. The way we fund our schools needs to be modified to provide the right amount of funds at the right time. Waiting until the school year has begun is too late. We need to commit the funds necessary to allow our schools to compete for the very best resources during the late spring and early summer.
   
   
4. Expand our vocational education programs. We have students interesting in attending vocational schools but unfortunately for some, there is no room for them. I would like to see the current Dover High School site become a traditional vocational school after the new Dover High School is built. Students would attend for half the school day then spend the other half at their home school. We’ll keep the vocational school focused on vocational education and let the home schools provide the educational programs and extracurricular activities.
   
   
5. Parent involvement. There are few things more important than a parent’s involvement in their child’s education. Eight states and the District of Columbia set standards which require employers to provide protected leave for eligible employees to participate in their child’s educational activities. I have met with the grandparents of a child because the mother was afraid of losing her job if she took the time to attend a conference for her son. We can do better to provide for and protect our parent’s jobs and allow them to participate in their children’s educational activities.
   
   
6. We need to change the way school construction is funded to allow our educators to do what they do best, educate our children, not run campaigns to raise money to repair and build schools.

1. It is estimated we have over 5,000 children in Kent County who do not have health insurance. Sadly, it is estimated that nearly half of them qualify for a either the Delaware Healthy Children Program or Medicaid but are not enrolled. We must do better. As your representative I will:
1. Streamline the process to make it easier to get children and eligible families enrolled into the Delaware Healthy Children’s Program.
2. Initiate a campaign to go door to door if necessary to ensure parents are aware of the programs available to them. We need to be more proactive to find these kids and get them enrolled.
3. Lower the barriers to entry. For some, the price of insurance is still too high. There are several ways to address this. One option is to switch from a monthly premium to a co-pay, another is to increase the income threshold before requiring a premium. A small investment now provides a much larger return in the future.
4. Create a bridge to coverage by picking up the expenses for the medical event that led them to the hospital/doctor in the first place. As the program is structured today coverage does not begin on with the first visit – just future illnesses.
5. Allow hospitals to directly enroll newborns and their siblings into the Delaware Healthy Children Programs.
   
   
2. Leave No Child Left Inside. I did not think of the slogan but it is so appropriate to address the issue of childhood obesity. We have to do more to support the health and physical education of our children and I will find ways to fund the programs needed to help our children live healthy and active lives.
1. Require more Physical Education in schools and insuring we teach the skills to help them live a healthy life.
2. Ensure our kids have healthy choices for breakfast and lunch at school.

3. For Seniors:
1. Support programs to make prescription drugs affordable – consolidate state purchasesacross multiple programs to negotiate better pricing for our seniors.
2. Demand more efficient management of programs to ensure more dollars go to covering our senior citizens’ healthcare, not bigger government.
3. Make sure our seniors get the preventive care they need.
   
   

The way the under-insured & uninsured use the system is costing us $91 million per year. We must find a way to provide preventive care. Putting the financial impact aside I believe we have a moral obligation to do more!

1. Retain the businesses that we have – make this a focus of the Delaware Economic Development Office
   
   
2. Foster more cooperation between DEDO and our Chambers and county economic development organizations
   
   
3. A strong education system is crucial to any economic development strategy. Educational programs should be aligned to support economic development goals to ensure we have the workforce in place to support the industries we want to grow

I will support programs that bring good jobs and an improved economy to Delaware.

Open Government

Our state government needs to be open and accessible. If we are to work through the challenges ahead, our citizens must trust government. To accomplish this I will work for the following:

1. More transparency in government.
   
   
2. No legislation in epilogue language
   
   
3. Regular communication with you throughout the legislative session – not just during an election year.

I had to comply with the with Open Government requirements while on the school board and know we can do it in Dover as well.

Accountable Government

Starting with the Governor, and down to every state employee we must be accountable to our citizens for how we spend your hard earned dollars. I ran for school board pledging to be accountable and hold people accountable and we have delivered results.

1. We put almost $3 million dollars in our strategic reserve this past year allowing us to withstand the more than $750,000 reduction in state funding without laying off any teachers. We accomplished this through sound fiscal management, oversight and accountability.
   
   
2. In 2007-2008 we combined two programs, the PEAK program from DelTech and the Kent County Intensive Learning Center managed by Capital into one program. As a result we eliminated an administrator position, now share support resources and have expanded the number of students being served. We are using your tax dollars more effectively.
   
   
3. We lowered your tax rate this year.
   
   

Effective Government

We have to make sure we spend your tax dollars more effectively.

1. No more golf courses.
   
   
2. I will push to consolidate and streamline our government. I want our tax dollars going to the services needed not to bigger government.
   
   
3. Make government more consumer-friendly.

1. I will work with the City and County to find ways we can work together more effectively to address the issues caused by the growth.
   
   
2. Controlled and planned growth is important to our state. Growth brings jobs and sends a message to prospective employers that we can support their business.

I believe sports gaming will provide Delaware a competitive advantage over surrounding states and should help combat the decline/slowed growth of revenue from other forms of gaming and the introduction of gaming in our neighboring states.

1. The state needs to more effectively spend our tax dollars. I will work for a smaller but more effective government that will provide us the ability to make the investments necessary in education, healthcare and economic development.
   
   
2. With revenues declining is it is critical that we prioritize our spending to those most critical needs. Beds for the homeless are more critical than golf courses.
   
   
3. Our state payroll is the biggest expense and we’ve added hundreds of new jobs over the past several years.

1. Clean and renewable sources should be encouraged.
   
   
2. Conservation should be a focus – reduce demand to delay need to expansion of generation requirements.
   
   
3. Higher Energy efficiency levels should be required for all government funded construction.
   
   
4. Dept. of Energy High voltage power lines are needed to support near-term demand and also provide access to excess capacity from the west.
   
   
5. Wind Power provides Delaware with a source of clean, renewable energy and a boost to our state’s economy providing jobs for the construction and ongoing maintenance.

1. We spend almost $24,000 per year to incarcerate prisoners. We should invest more in education or be prepared to build more prisons and pay more later.
   
   
2. We need to explore ways to expand homebound incarceration for less dangerous prisoners.
   
   
3. Provide judges the judicial discretion to sentence – do away with mandatory minimum sentences and return discretion to judges.