The Gloucester County School Board held a public hearing on its recommended budget Tuesday night in the T.C. Walker Education Center Auditorium, receiving minimal public comment from those in attendance.

“I hope you include in your budget someone to teach the Constitution of the United States,” said Dianne Carter Jones of the Ware District. “The origin of it and what the struggle was to get it in place. And what principles on which it is based.”

Brian Dodier, Peasley Middle School social studies teacher and president of the Gloucester Education Association, spoke on behalf of GEA members regarding the budget. Among members concerns were health care costs and teacher workload.

“With more teachers that job becomes more tenable,” said Dodier. “And that is a way to help retain teachers.”Larry Cohen of the York District expressed his distress over increased student suspensions at the elementary level, especially at Bethel and Achilles elementary schools. He said he was originally ...