Sussex Consortium

The school was established in 1983 and was housed in various facilities. In 2013 it moved into the former Lewes School in Lewes. {{As of|2018}} it was the school with the highest increase of students.{{cite web|last=Driscoll|first=Ellen|url=https://www.capegazette.com/article/sussex-consortium-plans-expand/169903|title=Sussex Consortium plans expand|newspaper=Cape Gazette|date=2018-11-20|accessdate=2021-06-15}} The Consortium was previously located in the former Lewes School in Lewes.{{cite web|last=Driscoll|first=Ellen|url=https://www.capegazette.com/article/sussex-consortium-open-march-16/198960|title=Sussex Consortium to open March 16|newspaper=Cape Gazette|date=2020-03-10|accessdate=2021-06-17}}

In 2015 the State of Delaware gave a certificate of necessity that allowed Cape Henlopen school district to establish a new building. The State of Delaware funded 100% of the construction of the current facility. In 2016 the State of Delaware planned to acquire {{convert|26|acre|ha}} of land,{{cite web|last=Driscoll|first=Ellen|url=https://www.capegazette.com/article/finishing-touches-applied-sussex-consortium/207775|title=Finishing touches applied to Sussex Consortium|newspaper=Cape Gazette|date=2020-09-06|accessdate=2021-06-16}} with $1.8 million, and then create a 28-classroom {{convert|67000|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} facility worth $22 million. In 2017 all four members of the Sussex County Council voted to allow Sussex Consortium to get a new building.{{cite web|last=Hughes|first=Gray|url=https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2017/03/07/sussex-consortium-gets-green-light-new-building/98858270/|title=Sussex Consortium gets green light for new building|newspaper=The Daily Times|place=Salisbury, Maryland|date=2017-03-07|accessdate=2021-06-17}} In 2018 the state of Delaware paid $13 million to add additional space: an indoor pool, a second gymnasium, and 18 classrooms. The construction timetable was changed after, in August of that year, the state awarded the additional funds. The classrooms include a vocational area and another pre-Kindergarten wing. The total price was around $44 million. Its opening was scheduled for March 16, 2020. However an unexpected school closure scheduled until May 15 meant that the district could finish additional work. Its new opening day was September 16, 2020.{{cite web|last=Driscoll|first=Ellen|url=https://www.capegazette.com/article/sussex-consortium-nears-completion/206977|title=Sussex Consortium nears completion|newspaper=Cape Gazette|date=2020-08-20|accessdate=2021-06-16}}

The total size of the school is {{convert|111000|sqft|sqm}}. This was the first building of Sussex Consortium specially built for its purpose. Students are separated by age with the second floor having older students.

The school has blue lights lit at night so the district can publicize its autism awareness campaign. Water-related decorations were added as other area schools had such decorations. Groundbreaking occurred on May 14, 2018.{{cite web|last=Driscoll|first=Ellen|url=https://www.capegazette.com/article/sussex-consortium-construction-underway/157201|title=Sussex Consortium construction underway|newspaper=Cape Gazette|date=2018-06-11|accessdate=2021-06-16}} Ellen Driscoll of The Cape Gazette wrote "Like all recent school designs that incorporate Cape Region elements, the student drop-off overhang resembles the Indian River Inlet bridge."

The classrooms have individual temperature controls due to some students being sensitive to heat, as well as in-suite bathrooms. Two-way glass is a feature for transparency reasons.

The State of Delaware funds the school as it serves all areas of Sussex County.

{{As of|2019}} the school has about the same number of employees at Sussex Consortium that it has at Cape Henlopen High School. The employee-to-student ratio at Sussex Consortium, which had about 300 students, is much higher.{{cite news|last=Roth|first=Nick|url=https://www.capegazette.com/article/lewes-planners-review-new-shields-elementary-site-plan/183239|title=Lewes planners review new Shields Elementary site plan |newspaper=Cape Gazette|date=2019-07-17|accessdate=2021-07-05}}

{{As of|2019}} the school has 27 buses. Because it has students from all of Sussex County, it has more buses than most elementary and middle schools in the Cape Henlopen school district.

{{As of|2021}} the school has about 200 students. About 70% of the students reside in the Cape Henlopen School District and 30% reside elsewhere in Sussex County.

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite news|url=https://www.delmarvanow.com/picture-gallery/news/local/delaware/2016/01/08/a-tour-of-the-sussex-consortium-in-lewes/78510142/|title=A tour of the Sussex Consortium in Lewes|newspaper=The Daily Times|place=Salisbury, Maryland|date=2016-01-08}}

• {{Official website|https://www.capehenlopenschools.com/sc}}

{{Education in Sussex County, Delaware}}

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Category:Lewes, Delaware

Category:Schools in Sussex County, Delaware

Category:Public K–12 schools in Delaware

Category:Schools for people on the autistic spectrum

Category:1983 establishments in Delaware

Category:Educational institutions established in 1983