ster Banner/Dave Ryan
Dorchester Educators’ President Katie Holbrook asked the County Council to increase school funding.[/caption] CAMBRIDGE — Dorchester Educators’ President Katie Holbrook asked the members of the Dorchester County Council on May 1 to imagine a school system lacking teachers, in need of books, and with trash strewn about for lack of custodians. Then she said that could be the reality next year. Her remarks came during a public hearing regarding the county’s budget. She was the only citizen who spoke. “Tonight, I speak on behalf of this membership to ask you to please amend the current proposed budget to fund the Dorchester County Public Schools above Maintenance of Effort,” she said. Ms. Holbrook said the last time the county funded schools above Maintenance of Effort was 10 years ago, when she started teaching in Dorchester. With their pay being at the bottom of the scale in the state, the county is losing teachers. “It has recently come to my attention that approximately 30 educators have already submitted letters of resignation from Dorchester County Public Schools,” she said. “I have heard from dozens of other teachers, stating they have already signed contracts with other counties. Most notable is that many of these teachers are not leaving the Shore or this profession, they are leaving Dorchester County.” “Limited funding impacts our school district’s ability to provide needed resources for student success,” Ms. Holbrook said. “We believe funding above Maintenance of Effort is a necessity this year.” To learn more about Dorchester Educators, visit their website at dorchestereducators.weebly.com. The union’s office is at 5A Cedar St., Cambridge.