By Debra Messick

CAMBRIDGE - The last day of the school year in Dorchester County, Friday, June 14, was also Dr. Susan Morgan’s final day serving on the Board of Education. Morgan resigned from the board, effective immediately, and withdrew her candidacy in the upcoming November election.

Morgan sent an email informing newly appointed Superintendent Dr. Jymil Thompson, School Board President Mike Diaz, and the other three board members of her decision to end her tenure immediately.

She also emailed those supporting her campaign for reelection to represent District Three on the school board of her decision, acknowledging doing so “with a heavy heart.”

In both letters, Morgan referred to the school board meeting held the previous evening, Thursday, June 13, as an “embarrassing debacle” that convinced her to end her tenure, which began in 2020, when she was first elected. Morgan served as President from December 2022 through December 2023, and since then as Vice President.

With more than 20 years of experience as a Resource Counselor in Maryland public schools, Morgan also holds master’s degrees in history and counselor education and a doctoral degree in psychology.

Morgan cited her unwillingness to engage in what she characterized as name calling and derogatory comments from District Five board representative Chris Wheedleton, who was appointed by County Council one year ago to serve out the term of the late Laura Layton.

During the meeting, Wheedleton and Morgan strongly disagreed on the issue of continuing the current contract with Alternative Education provider Vision Quest.

(Wheedleton's proposal to end the contract passed by a vote of 3-1 with President Mike Diaz abstaining, due to his wife's professional connection with Vision Quest.)

During the meeting’s concluding moments, when board members were given the opportunity to offer closing comments, Wheedleton referred back to comments he’d made on social and published media following the board’s June 3 budget vote, which he had been unable to attend.

Becoming emotional at times, seeming to struggle to maintain composure, Wheedleton spoke at length about what he characterized as a lack of response to his inquiries about budget related meetings.

Calling for the board to improve transparency and communication, Wheedleton added, “I have found there to be a culture of coercion, confusion, and closed sessions.”

He further cited “condescension, lack of respect, and lack of collaborative spirit experienced from board leadership.”

In her letters, Morgan referred to Wheedleton’s comments.

“I have devoted much of my time and energy to fostering progress at DCPS. I felt that Mike Diaz and I have been a good team, working for change. I cannot, however, continue to be berated at board meetings, on social media, and word of mouth. There are several times last night that I was accused of not doing something and I would like to address them,” Morgan wrote, adding the following:

1. "We have done all in our power to make sure that board members received minutes and any papers distributed at the budget meetings," Morgan said. "This is much more than I ever received before and even after being appointed to the Budget Committee. I had to beg for the budget (60+ pages) and discover for myself what was going on, as did Mike. Unfortunately, even when all the questions I received from other members were answered, it wasn’t enough. For that I beg your forgiveness that I was not able to get the information across. At no time did we ask any of the directors or supervisors not to attend the Budget meetings. We appreciated any information and help we could get."

2. "Mike and I have worked hard to be as transparent as possible," Morgan said. "Anything we have discussed in budget meetings or elsewhere has been distributed to the community through the notes from the meetings."

3. "I can only interpret the statement about the board leadership to be directed at both Mike and me," Morgan said. "We have not passed any motions or made any decisions without the support of the Board. To suggest that we have done so or made decisions contrary to the board is ludicrous. We are only two people; we can’t pass anything on our own."

4. "Mr. Wheedleton said that he was angry at being cut out of the voting on the budget since he had not received answers to his questions and the board had not had a public meeting on it," Morgan said. "That is simply not correct. We had informed Mr. Wheedleton of the meeting and the time along with why we were having an emergency meeting (i.e., to vote on the budget and the RFPs). He notified Mike the day before to let him know that he wouldn’t be there. When Mike tried to accommodate and find another date, Mr. Wheedleton stated that he would not be available at all that week and did not offer virtual attendance. As for the lack of a public meeting, we had a meeting this year that was open to the public for comments on the budget. No one came. We had not said we would have such a meeting again, that was something Mr. Wheedleton requested."

In her closing statements, Morgan wished the school system the best. “They now have a good, strong superintendent who has some creative and forward-thinking ideas,” she wrote.