Sports
Fun
Indians hope to compete for another title
Bethany honoring past, present
Page A43
Page B1
SEPTEMBER 4, 2026
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 23, Issue 36
FREE
No referendum in 2027 from school district IRSD board to focus on 2028, outreach By Laura Walter Staff Reporter The Indian River School District Board of Education has decided not to pursue a current-expense referendum in the spring of 2027 but to instead focus all of their planning and outreach on a
Frankford to sell former town hall
2028 vote instead. After several years of cutting budgets, staff and programs, IRSD Board is still working to balance the other side of the budget equation: increasing local school tax revenue. Although their finance director had long envisioned needing a 2027 public referendum to provide fresh funds to the district, he ultimately recommended a 2028 referendum, because finances have stabilized just enough since 2025 for the IRSD to
really take its time with planning and community outreach. Director of Business & Finance Chris Parker explained the situation during two school board meetings, on Aug. 17 and 24. “Before we went to the last referendum, we were not in a good place financially. … Because of the failed referendums, you all had to make very tough decisions. We had to cut 10 percent of the staff, and we were able to
enact,” he said, a different kind of tax increase “that was allowed,” due to a statewide property reassessment. Additionally, the IRSD is eligible to trade academic excellence units for state funding. “Anything that we’re talking about now is because of those tough decisions that you guys made,” Parker said. “We’re not where we want to be. We’re not at See IRSD page A3
Taking flight
By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter The Frankford Town Council voted this week to sell the former town hall property, citing likely high costs of needed repairs to the historic structure. The former town hall, located at 5 Main Street, was built around 1913 and originally housed the National Bank of Frankford. It served as the town hall for many years, with a small meeting room and reception area in the front and offices in the rear. Since the Town moved administrative and police offices to 9 Main Street about 10 years ago, the Town has leased the space to the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project Inc., a nonprofit agency based in Roanoke, Va. Six years ago, the Town sought to have the building placed on the National Register of Historic Places, but the effort did not succeed, despite meet-
Special to the Coastal Point • Maryfrances Berger
A blue heron found a quiet spot and decided to take it all in from above. See FRANKFORD page A4
Move causes Kline to step away from school board By Laura Walter Staff Reporter Georgetown-area residents can apply to join the Indian River School District Board of Education, as a vacancy recently opened on the school board in District 1. Kelly Kline is moving her
residence outside of the Indian River School District, which nullifies her eligibility to be a board member. “It’s bittersweet since, with the exception of when I went to college, this is the first time I will be living outside of the IRSD,” Kline told the Coastal Point. “It was an honor to serve District
1, and I’m grateful for everything I learned during my term. The complexities of Delaware’s school system are vast, but the teachers, staff, admin and board are all committed to doing what’s best for the district’s students and community.” She confirmed that she’ll keep her
local ties and remain director of the Selbyville Public Library. Her last regular school board meeting representing District 1 was Aug. 24. “I will miss all of you on the board,” Kline said that night. “I’ve really enjoyed See KLINE page A4