Unofficial Notes from the Board of Education Mtg – March 20, 2025 – 5pm

Dorchester County School Board Budget Session
Members of the School Board Present: Dr. Jymil Thompson (Superintendent), Brandy Dawson Cumberland (District 1), Talibah Chikwendu (District 2), Christine LaMonica (District 3), Chris Wheedleton (District 5). Absent: Sherri Hubbard (District 4)
Dr. Thompson opened the meeting with a Power Point presentation update on where the current budget for the Dorchester County Public School stands.
  • Currently, the budget deficit is approximately $5.6 million.
  • Dr. Thompson talked about next steps:
    • The budget cannot honor the full amount of the cost-of-living adjustment.
    • The school board is in negotiations with the MD Department of Education (MD DE), MD Department of Education – Education Support Professionals (MD DE- ESP), and Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) personnel.
    • Deficit amount is $3.5 million.
    • Reduce 12 – 24 staff positions – do not know which positions will be cut.
  • Amount is $900,000 – $1.8 million.
Comments by Dr. Thompson:
  • Cannot afford to lose teachers with the goal of going from a 23 to 15 ranking. 
  • The board is determined to keep class sizes small.
Comments by Support Staff:
  • Collecting data on teachers interested in/planning to retire.
  • Want to get data correct & passed on to the principals/school staff ASAP.
  • Getting a large grant from the state for textbooks.
  • There are smaller grant programs available for supplies like textbooks.
Nobody from the audience had any questions for the board.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:11 PM.
Notes taken by A Kennedy, CAN member