CAMBRIDGE MATTERS
Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
January 4, 2019
Dear Readers:
Last evening I attended the first of several anticipated school board meetings regarding the budget for the Dorchester County Public Schools. When the meeting began, aside from the board, the Superintendent, and staff, there were three people from the public including me. One person did not speak, and the other person was Glen Payne, a former member of the school board.
While I had no information regarding the proposed budget upon which to comment, I was given the opportunity to speak on the issues of concern that I had based on my past experience and what I have observed over the years since we moved here.
The attached letter to the editor that went to the Banner on Wednesday summarizes my concerns. The board chair was appreciative of my comments and asked that I come to the county council meetings when the school budget is presented to them.
Later in the meeting I learned that Mr. Bramble,who is the board chair, and Mr. Rice, a board member, will be meeting with the school finance/budget director and staff next Thursday to start discussions on the details of the budget. They asked that any of the board members be in touch with them regarding any issues or concerns that they might have with regard to the budget.
As I, Mr. Payne, and Shay Lewis-Sisco were the only citizens who discussed our concerns about the budget, I would ask that you email Mr. Bramble and Mr. Rice prior to next Thursday about your concerns and interests in funding priorities for the school system. Understanding that you do not know what the budget may look like, I hope that your comments will parallel the concerns that Steve Heyneman and I raise in the above mentioned letter, or express your own personal concerns.
The email addresses for Mr. Bramble and Mr. Rice are as follows:
brambleg@dcpsmd.org and ricep@dcpsmd.org
Without community engagement at a greater level than I saw last evening, I am concerned that the budget for the coming school year will not focus on what the community believes are the priorities.
Thanks for anything that you might be willing to do.
Steve