Howard County Executive Ball leaving to take over Baltimore City Community College

After making history as Howard County’s first Black county executive, Calvin Ball announced Monday he will step down this month to become interim president at Baltimore City Community College.

Ball, 51, returns to the city’s two-year college where he worked as director of its Complete College program before being elected county executive in 2018. The Complete College program provides resources to help students transition to a community college career.

“To return to an institution that holds such a special place in my heart is a full-circle moment,” said Ball, who has a doctorate in education from Morgan State University.

“BCCC is a place of possibility, where dreams can be nurtured, barriers broken, and futures are transformed,” he said. “I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for placing its trust in me and for the opportunity to once again serve this extraordinary community.”

Ball wrote on Facebook that he plans to step down Nov. 16, just three weeks before the new county executive is scheduled to be sworn in. Brandee Ganz, the county’s chief administrative office, will serve as acting county executive until the new executive takes office Dec. 7.

Baltimore City Community College leader defends school against audit

Ball, who is term-limited after serving two four–year terms, served as president of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) between 2023-24. Ball often traveled to Annapolis during the 90-day legislative session and testified before various General Assembly committees. He joined other Black men in Annapolis almost two years ago, encouraging them to get out and vote during the 2024 presidential election.

Ball takes over after a state audit released in June found that the college apparently awarded $264,000 in financial aid to 145 potentially fictitious or “ghost students,” and didn’t adhere to procurement laws. The audit also said the school could not account for more than 20,000 missing items, such as laptops and other computer equipment, worth a total of about $20 million.

In August, the community college’s faculty union ratified its first-ever contract. Part of the contract with members represented by United Academics of Maryland Local 6628, an affiliate of American Federation of Teachers-Maryland, includes a 3.25% raise and a $1,000 bonus in the first year.

Slightly more than two weeks later, on Sept. 9, BCCC President Debra McCurdy testified before the legislature’s Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee, and defended the school against the state audit. McCurdy attributed some of the challenges to a vacancy rate that exceeds 25% for BCCC positions, and said new leadership has been hired to help get the school back on track.

According to The Baltimore Banner, McCurdy emailed faculty and staff Friday she will step down at the end of the year.

Ball said Monday he plans to bring “that same spirit of service, collaboration, and compassion to BCCC, building upon the progress made under Dr. McCurdy’s leadership, and working alongside our faculty, staff, and students to strengthen pathways to opportunity and success.”

“I plan to continue leading with love, listening with intention, and working together to ensure that every student who walks through BCCC’s doors has the opportunity to realize their potential and build a brighter future,” his statement said.

Voters on Tuesday will choose Ball’s successor, with Democrat Vanessa Atterbeary and Green Party nominee Nater Kane squaring off for the job.