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Governor Jack Markell’s Update

Written on: October 8th, 2012 in Effective & Efficient Government

Strengthening our schools, creating more jobs and governing responsibly are our key areas of focus.

Making Our Schools Safer

If our kids are going to learn to the best of their abilities, they need, first and foremost to be safe. That’s why I recently signed into law the Omnibus School Safety Act, which will lead to the development of school-specific safety plans that are comprehensive, coordinated and compliant with federal emergency response systems. This act is part of a multi-year effort to make our schools and the students attending our schools safer, so our teachers and staff can focus on what they do best: educating our children.

Creating More Jobs

About a year ago, Marie Shane and Ginny Jewel (pictured left) lost their jobs when their employer, a Delaware bookstore, closed. They were down but not out. By combining their years of experience with a lot of hard work, financial assistance from the Delaware State Small Business Credit Initiative and the help of SCORE Delaware, Acorn Books recently opened for business in Dover. Ginny and Marie started a new chapter in their lives.

Another recent opening, also focused on books, was the unveiling of the new Dover Public Library. While many of us view Delaware libraries as real hubs for information-sharing, they are also helping people find jobs. The Job Center at Delaware Libraries helps Delawareans learn how to change careers or start a business.

Governing responsibly

Children average 6.5 hours per day with electronic media and just minutes a day engaged in unstructured outdoor activities. A new report issued by Delaware’s Children in Nature/No Child Left Inside Task Force provides recommendations on how we can better engage our children to be as excited about getting outside as they are about getting the latest video game. By implementing these recommendations with support from our Departments of Natural Resources and Education, Delaware will become a leader in environmental education and advocacy.

Our State Housing Authority recently unveiled DelawareHousingSeach.org, a new housing locator website providing free information about rental housing across the first state. Not only does the site allow real -time searches for available housing, but it also features a bilingual call center helping Delawareans to get the answers they need and find a place to call home.

Tags: Delaware, education, Governor Jack Markell, housing, responsible government, teachers