Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge
The Spy’s P. Ryan Anthony and WHCP’s Jim Brady speak with Dorchester County Commissioner Mike Detmer about the county budget, federal project cuts, the possibility of a new township, and more.
This video is approximately 12 minutes long.
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The Cambridge Spy’s P. Ryan Anthony and WHCP’s Jim Brady recently spoke with Dr. Jymil Thompson, Dorchester County Public Schools Superintendent, about the budget deficit, student crime, gender protections, and more.
This video is approximately 15 minutes in length.
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Cambridge Police Chief Justin Todd recently chatted with the Spy and WHCP about various topics, including crime trends, community policing, and juvenile crime.
This video is approximately 10 minutes.
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The Spy and WHCP Community Radio continues this week with our ongoing series of conversations with Dorchester County Public Schools Superintendent Jymil Thompson. In his interview with the Spy’s Dave Wheelan, Dr. Thompson addresses some of the more sobering results of their most recent 2024 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment, including data that showed that the school system’s high school English performance with 10th graders achieved the lowest proficiency rate in the state at only 30.6%.
Dr. Thompson also discusses more notable improvements, such as third-grade and sixth-grade math and middle-school algebra. The district also improved its ranking in fifth-grade science proficiency, moving from 22nd to 20th in Maryland. He also talks about the early results of Dorchester’s experiment to limit the use of cell phones in the classroom.
This video is approximately 19 minutes in length.
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A public forum of candidates for contested Cambridge mayor and city council positions will take place Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Intergenerational Center, 108 Chesapeake Street.
The event — sponsored by Cambridge Association of Neighborhoods (CAN), The Dorchester Star, The Cambridge Spy and WHCP — will be conducted by the League of Women Voters and moderated by members of the sponsoring groups, which generated questions to ask the candidates. Additional questions will be taken from the live audience.
Three afternoon sessions will be held to accommodate the 13 candidates running in contested races. The event will be live-streamed on Facebook and Youtube and available on demand and will be broadcast later on WHCP radio.
1 p.m. Wards 1 and 3 (4 candidates)
3 p.m. Mayoral panel (3 candidates)
4:30 p.m. Wards 2 and 4 (6 candidates)
The election will be held Saturday, Oct. 19.
For further information, contact: [email protected]
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The Spy’s Dave Wheelan and WHCP Community Radio’s Jim Brady continue their quarterly check-in with the City of Cambridge’s police chief, Justin Todd. In this segment, Chief Todd discusses crime rates in Cambridge and nationally and some of the factors that have helped the City reduce its crime rate over the last year. The Chief also talks about the renewal of the evening curfew for young people going to effect.
This video is approximately 12 minutes in length.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
WHCP: This is Midshore Midday. I’m Jim Brady.
After months long search from a pool of 15 candidates, the Cambridge City Council has selected its new city manager, Glenn Steckman. Today we’re speaking with him from his current post as City Manager of Nome, Alaska. Congratulations, and welcome.
GS: Thank you.
WHCP: I understand Maryland will be sort of a homecoming for you.
GS: Well, actually even Dorchester County will be sort of a homecoming. I was born and raised in Baltimore City. Then my family moved out to Baltimore County, but I went to school in Baltimore City and Baltimore County through graduate school.
WHCP: Well, I imagine you did your homework when considering Cambridge. What kind of things registered with you?
GS: I am familiar with Dorchester County. That’s where I started my career as a circuit riding town manager for some of the smaller communities. So, I’ve watched Dorchester County. I’m aware that there are a lot of great projects going on right now. You can see the redevelopment along Route 50, and the amount of building permits. So definitely Cambridge is a happening place.
WHCP: Did you get a chance to talk with the last city manager, Tom Carroll?
GS: No, but I’ve had extensive conversations with Dave Deutsch, who has been the acting town manager and obviously was part of the search, leading the recruiter for the search. I may speak with Mr. Carroll, but I applaud the amount of information that has been provided to me by Mr. Deutsch.
WHCP: So, what did you see when you were looking that’s appealing for the job in Cambridge?
GS: Well, the number one thing, it brought me back to Maryland. One of the things is I’ve been away; my wife has tolerated me for being away for almost five years now. Working in Alaska was also on my bucket list, but also my bucket list is coming back to Maryland and to work in a community that I have somewhat familiarity with. But I don’t have the in-depth level of familiarity because I haven’t lived there, and I’m really looking to learn and meet with the leadership of all the various organizations in Cambridge when I get there.
WHCP: What are you aware of that are the main challenges so far?
GS: Well, I mean, obviously the issue of economic development. Dorchester County still has challenges from an economic development and growth and employment opportunities. Obviously, the development of the 32-acre parcel of land along the Choptank and how that’s developed can mean that the city of Cambridge frankly has a positive cashflow that this property not only meets the needs of a developer, but meets the needs of the community. And the community can feel that this development will flow back into the town and not be isolated.
WHCP: Yeah. Speaking of the waterfront development, there’s been quite a tussle over issues with that. Do you feel like you’ll be able to step in to take up where management left off before?
GS: Well, obviously this has been a complicated issue, but I have been, in my career, I’ve been involved with development impacting communities up to $1.2 billion. So, I mean, I’ve been in disputes, I’ve mediated disputes with always the intent that it’s in the best interest of the community.
WHCP: How about goals? Do you have any programs or policies you’re looking forward to putting into place?
GS: Well, I want to speak with the leadership, the commissioners. I want to speak with the staff. I’m actually coming back on August the 19th for one day because I want to meet with the staff before I actually start so that they can at least have, not that you get to know a person in a day, but they can at least who they get to know me a little bit and we can hit and get a running start. But the community also helps set the goals. And I want to talk with folks. I mean, I know there’s sidewalk development. I know there’s flooding mitigation, I know there’s wastewater issues. I know there is probably going to be a need for more separation of storm water and wastewater lines, which could overwhelm the wastewater treatment plant. Obviously, the flood mitigation monies that have been awarded to the town. Other projects, the new, I guess it’s the Boys and Girls Club over on Maces Lane. We want to make sure we can get that up and running very quickly, because right now the city really doesn’t have a rec and parks program. And I think that’s very important to give our young people something to do, especially in the long days of summer and even on weekends and other times during the winter.
WHCP: So how would you describe your management style?
GS: My approach is I maintain an open door. I mean, obviously there is hierarchy of how the city government runs, but I do maintain an open-door policy for my employees, for the community, for the community leaders. I will meet with people in the evening. I will meet with people on Saturdays. Actually, right now, I do maintain Saturday hours on Saturdays because certain of our residents can’t meet with me during the week, and they want to come in on a Saturday morning and sit down and talk with me. I’m open to that. The more information I have and can gather, the better I can serve the residents, the businesses of Cambridge and Dorchester.
WHCP: Now you’ve been in municipal government since 1996?
GS: Well, even a little bit longer than that. I started out as a city councilman. I was a city councilman for about 10 years in Ocean City in two different stints, and I’ve been a municipal manager for just about 25 years now.
WHCP: What are some of the cities and towns that you’ve worked for?
GS: Well, I mean, obviously I worked, actually, I did a lot of work in Vienna, Maryland. That’s where when I was a circuit riding manager, that’s where I was pretty much based as I helped some of the smaller communities. But I was in Laurel, Delaware, and in three years we had up and designed and under construction, a brand-new wastewater treatment plant. It was a lot of projects that I had a good time doing in Laurel. I worked in Rhode Island; I worked some in Virginia. I worked for 10 plus years, 10 years or so in Pennsylvania and five years here up in Nome. I was the first city administrator because of a charter change in Pennsylvania. So, I’m used to being part of change, but I’m also a project type guy. I love doing projects, which I’ve always believed have been to the benefit of the community.
WHCP: Let’s see. You were starting in September, so that’s about a month before city elections.
GS: Well, I have more people to meet. The city manager’s position is a nonpolitical position. I’m a member of the ICMA. My job is to work with the council, provide them with the information so they can make informed decisions, and sometimes channel information that I am receiving from the residents and businesses. But I’m a nonpolitical position, so whether there’s election or not, that really should not impact on how I do my job.
WHCP: So, have you begun looking for a home here yet?
GS: Well, actually was back. I’ve been back this month. My wife and I were looking at homes. We were also trying to fully understand the geographic borders of the city, because typically you use Waterlines. But I found out that the city waterlines extend beyond its boundaries. But we’ve looked at property that we know is in town, and obviously we’re using the online tools too. But my wife is actually meeting with a realtor tomorrow to look at putting our house on the market in the near future in Salisbury.
WHCP: Well, good luck in your search. We’ve been talking with Cambridge’s new city manager, Glenn Steckman. Thanks for taking the time and we look forward to more updates with you.
GS: I look forward to meeting you in person. I look forward to beginning my interaction with the residents of the great city of Cambridge. Thank you.
WHCP: This is Midshore midday on WHCP.
Listen here: soundcloud.com/whcp-radio/city_manager
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As part of the Spy Newspapers and WHCP Community Radio (91.7) ongoing news collaboration, the Spy’s Dave Wheelan and WHCP’s Jim Brady have begun regular check-ins with Superintendent of Dorchester Schools Dr. Jymil Thompson.
In our first chat, Dr. Thompson discussed his background and his journey to Dorchester County. He also discussed the impact Maryland’s Blueprint for Excellence has had on his school district, budget issues facing Dorchester, and other concerns, such as the use of cell phones in the classroom.
This video is approximately 23 minutes in length.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The Spy’s Dave Wheelan and WHCP Community Radio’s Jim Brady continue their monthly check-in with the City of Cambridge’s police chief, Justin Todd. In this segment, Chief Todd talks about the drug overdose challenges in Cambridge, the retention of officers, and how the police use different modes of patrol.
This video is approximately 12 minutes in length.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
In a sudden and unexpected move, Dr. Susan Morgan, the vice president of the Dorchester County Board of Education, announced her resignation following a heated board meeting last week. Dr. Morgan, who has been a board member since 2020 and has previously served as its president, cited recent events as the tipping point for her decision.
Dr. Morgan’s resignation email, sent last Friday, came after a contentious board meeting where two significant issues were addressed: criticism from board member Chris Wheedleton and the termination of a contract with VisionQuest for alternative schooling. Dr. Morgan joined me to discuss these events and her reasons for stepping down.
The Criticism from Chris Wheedleton
“Chris Wheedleton’s statement at the meeting was largely vague, but he blamed the board’s leadership, which includes me and President Mike Diaz, for unspecified problems,” Dr. Morgan explained. “He was particularly upset about a school budget vote that took place in his absence.”
Dr. Morgan clarified the circumstances around the emergency meeting where the budget was approved. “It wasn’t a secret. We informed all members, including Mr. Wheedleton, via email and announcement. He even told Mr. Diaz he couldn’t attend because of a new client commitment. Despite being reminded of the meeting’s importance, he assumed it was just a presentation.”
The board’s vote to approve the budget and a new RFP for middle and elementary alternative programs was a necessity, Dr. Morgan emphasized. “The emergency meeting resulted in a three-to-one vote on the budget and the RFPs. One member was firmly against VisionQuest, leading to the decision to accept a different proposal.”
The VisionQuest Contract Termination
“The vote to discontinue the contract with VisionQuest was a primary factor in my decision to resign,” Dr. Morgan stated. “Some members were determined to end this contract despite its success. Seven students graduated this year who wouldn’t have without VisionQuest. Their parents and the students themselves saw value in the program.”
Dr. Morgan expressed frustration that some board members had never visited VisionQuest’s campus or classrooms, relying instead on hearsay. “This program was more cost-effective than previous in-house programs and other private vendors we’ve used.”
Financial Mismanagement
In a prior, unaired interview, Dr. Morgan and President Diaz discussed efforts to control school spending. “The financial habits we found were disastrous. There were no constraints, and the spending was rampant,” she said. “Some budget categories were overspent by millions.”
Challenges from the County Council
“The county council has been a huge roadblock,” Dr. Morgan noted. “They haven’t provided the 1% needed for capital projects, forcing us to use reserve funds and hurting our budget. The board members’ stipend hasn’t increased in over 20 years, despite state mandates.”
Dr. Morgan’s Reflections and Future Plans
Reflecting on her resignation, Dr. Morgan admitted to mixed feelings. “I was elected to represent my district, and it feels bad to step down early. But with three members consistently outvoting us, I saw no value in staying when the atmosphere had become toxic.”
As for her future, Dr. Morgan looks forward to enjoying her retirement. “I’ve been retired for eight years but always had board responsibilities. Now, I’ll travel and truly enjoy my retirement.”
Final Thoughts
Dr. Susan Morgan’s departure marks a significant change for the Dorchester County Board of Education. Her efforts and dedication to improving the school system are appreciated, and she leaves with the best wishes from the community.
This is Jim Brady, WHCP News Director, signing off for Mid-Shore Midday.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
