State School Fund Commissioners. The General Assembly, in 1816, appointed nine commissioners to oversee the State school fund in each county (Chapter 256, Acts of 1816). The commissioners were to “establish a central free school in each election district” and report back to the General Assembly on how funds were used. It is not clear in the 1816 law if the word “free” refers to the classical curriculum described in 1694 or lack of tuition.
County School Commissioners. In 1825, a statewide public education system was formed (Chapter 162, Acts of 1825). The justices of the levy courts in each county appointed nine school commissioners who were to divide the county into school districts. The levy courts also appointed up to eighteen inspectors of primary schools for each county. The inspectors were to examine teachers, issue teacher certificates, visit schools, give suggestions to teachers and school trustees, and report to school commissioners. Elected by the voters of each school district, three trustees were to purchase schoolhouse sites, repair and furnish the schoolhouses, and hire all teachers within the district. Authorized to keep records of school commissioner meetings, a district clerk was elected by the voters annually. A district collector collected monies from school taxes.
Board of County School Commissioners. In 1865, the State Board of Education called for a “uniform system of Free Public Schools” (Chapter 160, Acts of 1865). The public school system became centralized; “supervision and control of Public Instruction” was vested in the State Board of Education. The State Board appointed boards of county school commissioners in each county to serve four-year terms. Three years later, boards of county school commissioners regained control and supervision over county schools (Chapter 407, Acts of 1868). The public school system was no longer accountable to the State Board of Education. Within each county, voters elected county school commissioners, from each election district, to two-year terms. These school commissioners had custody over schoolhouse property and were expected to pay teacher salaries.
For all counties, including Dorchester, the school commissioners reorganized in 1870 (Chapter 311, Acts of 1870). County circuit court judges were to appoint three school commissioners for their respective counties. At the same time, the Board of State School Commissioners, previously named the State Board of Education, was reformed.
In 1892, the Governor gained authority to appoint county school commissioners (Chapter 341, Acts of 1892). By 1900, the Governor was to take into consideration minority party representation when appointing county school commissioners (Chapter 29, Acts of 1900).
Board of Education. Boards of county school commissioners were renamed boards of education in 1916 (Chapter 506, Acts of 1916). They were to be appointed by the Governor without regard to political affiliation.
Today, educational matters that affect Dorchester County come under the control of the Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-126).
The Board of Education is composed of seven members. Five are elected by the voters to four-year terms (Code Election Law Article, secs. 8-801 through 8-806). Two nonvoting student members, one chosen by students at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School and one by students at North Dorchester High School, serve one-year terms (Code Education Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-105; 3-5A-01 through 3-5A-05).
Assisting the Board is the Citizen Advisory Council on School Environment.
The Council is to recommend to the Board of Education policy and regulations for school safety and security.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Dorchester County Public Schools are governed by the County Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-130). In addition, through the review and approval of the annual operating and capital budgets, Dorchester County government exercises authority over the County Public Schools. Moreover, through the establishment and monitoring of various financial and academic policies and regulations, the State Department of Education also has considerable oversight of county public schools. Indeed, under Maryland law, the State Department of Education works with county public schools to comply with requirements and mandates of federal law.
In Dorchester County, the Public School System has thirteen schools: 2 high schools, 2 middle schools, 6 elementary schools, and 1 combined school. It also is responsible for a vocational school and an alternative center. In Fiscal Year 2021, some 4,573 students were enrolled in the County's public schools.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
With the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education appoints the Superintendent of Schools to four-year terms.
The Board consists of ten members: two from each supporting county. They are appointed to five-year terms by the Governor with House of Delegates advice and consent. The President of Chesapeake College serves as secretary/treasurer to the Board (Code Education Article, sec. 16-406).
CAMBRIDGE CENTER
Hurlock Branch. In 1900, Henry Halworth started the Hurlock Free Library, the oldest library on the Eastern Shore and the second oldest library in Maryland. Over the years, it moved to several sites, including private homes, before arriving at its present location: 222 South Main Street, Hurlock.
Composed of fifteen members, the Board appoints its own members to three-year terms (Code Education Article, secs. 23-401; 23-403 through 23-407; Library By-Laws, Art. II, secs. a-f).
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The Superintendent of Schools administers the Dorchester County Public School System, and serves as executive officer, secretary, and treasurer of the Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-102; 4-201 through 4-206).
CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE
Chesapeake College was founded in 1965 as Maryland's first regional community college. A two-year college, it serves the residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties. Based at its Wye Mills campus in Queen Anne's County, the College has centers at Cambridge and Easton, and offers courses at local schools and community centers throughout the upper Eastern Shore of Maryland (Code Education Article, secs. 16-201 through 16-203).
BOARD OF COLLEGE TRUSTEES
For Chesapeake College, the Board of College Trustees is the governing body.
416-418 Race St., Cambridge, MD 21613
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Cambridge Branch. Opened in May 1922, the Dorchester County Public Library started with a donation of 1,500 books from the Women's Club of Cambridge to form a "free library" collection. The Library also originally was housed in a room of the Club House on High Street in Cambridge. By 1927, the Library filled a spare room in the former Cambridge Municipal Building on Gay Street. By 1939, the federal Works Progress Administration helped the County acquire a red brick building for the library adjacent to the present Library on Gay Street, which was completed in 1973.
BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
The Board of Library Trustees sets policy for the Dorchester County Public Library.
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