Happy Thanksgiving! From our family, to yours
NOVEMBER 24, 2023
Sports IR moves on to state semifinal Page A78
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
IRSD terminates Layfield’s and Jones’ contracts
Volume 20, Issue 47
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A thousand thanks
By Mike Smith Staff Reporter The Indian River School District has terminated the educational administration contracts of Bradley Layfield, former principal of Sussex Central High School, and Matt Jones, the former assistant principal at SCHS — both of whom have been caught up in a scandal over the sharing of security video and resulting manipulated image of an 18-year-old then-SCHS-senior named Aniya Harmon, whose breast was exposed during an altercation in the school’s hallways. The IRSD Board of Education made the personnel decision last week, Layfield on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at an emergency closed hearing, deciding against returning Layfield or Jones to district schools following their months-long suspension with pay after the alleged sharing of the video that showed Harmon’s exposed breast and a resulting meme image. The question of a potential reinstatement or human resources review of Layfield’s and Jones’ paid-leave suspension came up during the executive session meeting last Wednesday. The IRSD Board of Education must decide whether to terminate a school administrator’s contract before Dec. 30 or be required to carry it, with pay, until the end of the
See LAYFIELD page A3
CIB’s Collins joins Bethany stormwater committee By Mike Smith Staff Reporter Bob Collins — manager of programs and facilities for the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, who has served as the property manager of James Farm Ecological Preserve for about 10 years — has been appointed to the Town of Bethany Beach’s Stormwater & Flooding Committee. He was confirmed by the mayor and town council last month and joined his first meeting Thursday, Nov. 16. Collins is a Bethany Beach resident, along with his wife, Kelly, and has previously served as the secretary of the CIB board of directors and chairman of its Citizen’s Advisory Council. He is also an accredited organic land care professional and a Delaware nutrient management consultant, bringing decades of experience to the stormwater and flooding team. See STORMWATER page A5
Special to the Coastal Point • Carla Varisco
Volunteers helped pack up 14,000 boxes of food for those in need as part of Mountaire Farms’ annual ‘Thanksgiving for Thousands’ efforts. For more, turn to page A63.