As our national and local schools look toward another graduation, we must consider how successful the educational process really is in Dorchester County.  We are fortunate in our county to have excellent support for our schools, but economic support has declined because of the state change of funding for the schools and the recession that is gripping our nation.
For example, Act 388 dropped the use of property taxes for schools and increased sales taxes.  This change resulted in a $143 million drop in school funding since 2006.  Our public schools in the state are now 15 percent under-budgeted.  The population of our county has also grown over eight percent since 2006, too.
The Dorchester County Democratic Party believes that all Americans have the right to a first class education that will allow our citizens to compete in the 21st century.  In the words of the National Democratic Platform: “We must set high standards for our children, but we must also hold ourselves accountable—our schools, our teachers, our parents, business leaders, our community and elected leaders.”
In order to achieve high standards, Dorchester County Democrats and the South Carolina Democratic Party call for citizens to support the following actions:
 
1. The South Carolina Democratic Party supports the repeal of Act 388.  The
Dorchester County Democratic Party calls for a more reliable and equitable      
            source of funding for our public schools.

2. The full funding of the Educational Economic Development Act
3. The expansion of the four-year-old kindergarten to all at-risk four year olds
4. The amending of the South Carolina State Constitution to require an efficient, effective, safe and high quality public school system—a system of full and equitable funding for public schools, and to oppose using tax dollars to support private K-12 schools
5. The recognition of the rights of parents to provide private, religious, or home schooling.  Conduct these types of education with private not public funds.

Dorchester County is one of the most rapidly growing counties in the nation.  One reason for this growth is the quality of education in the county.  Unfortunately, the rapid growth has placed a considerable burden on our public schools.  The county is building more schools in an attempt to keep up with the growth, but for the past several years population increases have out-paced school construction.  The Dorchester County Democratic Party supports impact fees levied on new residential construction as one way to allow the county to keep up with the growing school age population.
Dorchester County Democrats agree with the National Democratic Platform which says:  “we know of no program and no policy that can substitute for parents who are involved in their children’s education from day one—who make sure that their children are in on time, who help them with their homework, and attend those parent/teacher conferences, who are willing to turn off the TV once in a while, put away the video games and read to their children.  Responsibility for our children’s education has to start at home.”
Many excellent teachers, strong administrators and hard working school boards in both school districts Two and Four bless Dorchester County.  Dorchester County Democrats salute the commitment to excellence in both districts.  Both districts have elected school boards, but only in District Four are school board members elected from single member districts.  District Two elects school board members at large.  Such elections have been held to be unconstitutional throughout South Carolina where tested in court.  It is only a matter of time before some group brings suit in Dorchester Two.  We urge that single member districts be created to elect school board members in District Two, as they already are in District Four.
Dorchester County Democrats believe that high quality public education is essential to the continued growth and development of America.  We believe that teaching is a noble profession and that teachers should be adequately compensated.  Parents, teachers, business leaders and elected officials must work together to prepare our children and grandchildren for the future.
 
 
 
David Rison, Ph.D.
 
 
Dr. Rison, a retired history professor, has more than 40 years of experience as an educator. He is active in the Dorchester County Democratic Party and currently serves as the party’s executive committeeman.