New Dorchester Board of Education members sworn in

CAMBRIDGE — The Dorchester Board of Education’s newest members were sworn in prior to Thursday evening’s board meeting.

Brandy Dawson Cumberland and Christine LaMonica were appointed by the Dorchester County Council to fill the District 1 and District 3 seats, respectively, following the resignations of former board President Mike Diaz and Vice President Susan Morgan.

Newly-elected Vice President Talibah Chikwendu said she’s excited to have a full board once again.

“More voices and more perspective will be a benefit to the students of Dorchester County and the staff of Dorchester County,” Chikwendu said at the end of Thursday’s meeting.

Cumberland and LaMonica join newly-elected President Sherri Hubbard, Chikwendu and Chris Wheedleton as members.

DCPS Superintendent Jymil Thompson welcomed Cumberland and LaMonica and said he hopes the new board can work together to improve the district’s current last-place ranking out of Maryland’s 23 counties.

“I look forward to doing big things with Dorchester County Public Schools, and most importantly, taking our school district from 23rd to 15th,” Thompson said. “ … Every decision that we make as a board and as a school system, in my mind, needs to be centered around moving us from 23rd to 15th.”