Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley budget hearings scheduled

Those of you who live in the Low Country have great opportunities to speak up at local school board meetings about school funding. The Charleston Post and Courier published yesterday a schedule of some school budget hearings by in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley districts, reprinted below. Keep in mind that educators are losing jobs across the state, class sizes are increasing and there's no political will among current lawmakers to raise the revenues necessary to keep the state's promises and obligations to its children. If you don't speak up for the children you teach and the colleagues you work with, no one else will.

Charleston County
What: Two district hearings
When: 6:30 tonight
Where: One at the district office at 75 Calhoun St., the other in the auditorium at West Ashley High School, 4060 W. Wildcat Blvd.

Berkeley County
What: Public meeting
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Cane Bay Elementary School, 1247 Cane Bay Blvd., Summerville

Dorchester District 2
What:: Public input session
When: 6 p.m. April 13
Where: Location to be announced

What: Budget workshop
When: 4:30 p.m. April 25 (tentative)
Where: District Office, 102 Greenwave Blvd., Summerville

What: Budget workshop
When: 4:30 p.m. May 9
Where: District Office, 102 Greenwave Blvd., Summerville

What: Public hearing and budget presentation
When: 6 p.m. May 10
Where: Location to be announced

What: Budget presentation to County Council
When: May 16, time to be announced
Where: Summerville council chambers, 500 N. Main St., Summerville