Calvin Ball to Lead Baltimore City Community College
Calvin Ball, Howard County’s term-limited executive, will leave office on November 16 to become interim president of Baltimore City Community College. The appointment, announced on November 2, brings Ball back to the college, where he previously directed the Complete College Baltimore program. He earned an education doctorate at Morgan State University.
BCCC President Debra McCurdy is expected to leave her post as the year concludes. The college serves about 3,700 students, but enrollment has fallen nearly 20% since 2019, even as community college enrollment grew nationally. Ball said he wants to work with faculty, staff, students and public officials to strengthen the institution and its pathways to opportunity.
Ball will take charge amid concerns about the college’s management. A state audit found that BCCC awarded about $264,000 in aid to 145 potentially fictitious students and did not follow procurement rules. It also said the college was unable to locate over 20,000 items valued at about $20 million. McCurdy has pointed to a vacancy rate above 25% and said new leaders were hired to address problems.
BCCC faculty ratified their first contract in August after lengthy negotiations. Brandee Ganz, the county’s chief administrative officer, will serve as acting county executive after Ball leaves and through the incoming executive’s inauguration on December 7. Voters are to choose Ball’s successor on November 3.
Ball’s Return Brings New Leadership to a Struggling City College
Calvin Ball’s move to Baltimore City Community College puts a public-service leader with experience at the school in a position to address its mounting challenges. Announced on November 2, the appointment returns him to BCCC, where he once directed a program designed to help students progress through college.
The college serves about 3,700 students, but enrollment has dropped nearly 20% since 2019. A state audit found about $264,000 in financial aid went to 145 potentially fictitious students and identified procurement failures. It also said BCCC could not account for more than 20,000 items worth about $20 million. These findings put the college’s ability to serve students and steward public resources at the center of Ball’s new role.
Ball has said he wants to work alongside the college community and public officials to strengthen student pathways. That task comes as faculty have raised concerns about trust and workplace conditions; their union ratified its first contract in August. McCurdy, who is expected to leave at year’s end, cited a vacancy rate above 25% and said new leadership had been hired to help address the institution’s problems.
Ball leaves the county executive’s office on November 16. Brandee Ganz will serve as acting executive until the new county leader takes office on December 7, after voters choose Ball’s successor on November 3.
BCCC’s Audit Problems Put Ball’s Leadership to the Test
The urgent test for Calvin Ball at Baltimore City Community College is whether new leadership can restore basic accountability. Ball, who announced the appointment on November 2, will leave his job as Howard County executive on November 16 and return to the college where he once led a student-support program.
A state audit found that BCCC awarded about $264,000 in aid to 145 potentially fictitious students and failed to follow procurement rules. It also found the college was unable to locate over 20,000 items valued at about $20 million. Those findings demand attention to oversight and the handling of public resources, alongside the college’s falling enrollment, down nearly 20% since 2019.
McCurdy, who is expected to step down at year’s end, defended the college at a legislative hearing and pointed to a vacancy rate exceeding 25%. She said new leaders had been hired to help put the institution back on track. Ball says he plans to collaborate with faculty, staff, students and public officials, while faculty members have raised concerns about trust and conditions at the college. Their union ratified its first contract in August.
Ball’s interim appointment puts responsibility for addressing these problems with incoming leadership. He leaves county office on November 16; Brandee Ganz will serve as acting county executive through the incoming executive’s inauguration on December 7. Voters are scheduled to select Ball’s successor on November 3.
Reported by The Baltimore Banner, WTOP.
