Education reporter, Carroll County

Thomas Goodwin Smith

Thomas Goodwin Smith covers community news in Carroll and Howard counties with a focus on education. Thomas joined Baltimore Sun Media in fall of 2022. He is a Northwestern University alumnus and a former local news reporter/anchor for 1430 WNAV in Annapolis.

Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent, Cynthia McCabe, ED.D., "Presents" the Century Class of 2024 to the Board of Education for Graduation. Century High School’s Twenty-first Annual Graduation Ceremony, Monday June 3, 2024 at the Gill Center at McDaniel College. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

Union, Carroll school board agree to delay Carroll County teacher salary increases

June 16, 2025 at 3:36 p.m.

The Carroll County Education Association tentatively agreed to a contract with Carroll County Public Schools that would delay staff cost-of-living and step salary increases for a year.

Progress of the athletic track resurfacing project at McDaniel College on Friday. (Brian Krista/Staff)

Construction underway at McDaniel College’s new track and field facility

June 16, 2025 at 9:54 a.m.

The track is likely to be a boon to Westminster hotels and restaurants, Eichelberger said, as hosting more large events in the city will draw crowds, and opposing teams will...

Carroll County Board of Education members, left to right, Stephen Whisler, Chloe Kang, student representative, Dr. Patricia S. Dorsey, new members, Dr. Greg Malveaux and Kristen Zihmer, Tara A. Battaglia, and Dr. Cynthia McCabe , Superintendent of Carroll County Public Schools. Carroll County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court Heather DeWees issued the Oath of Office Monday to incoming Board of Education members, Dr. Greg Malveaux and Kristen Zihmer. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

Carroll school board excludes 4 books from high school English lessons

June 13, 2025 at 3:57 p.m.

Carroll County's school board followed recommendations from its Curriculum Council in rejecting four books from high school English classroooms and including 47 others slated for a variety of grade levels...

This map shows the approximate right-of-way for route alternative I, one of 10 route alternatives that a contractor hired by grid operator PJM, Public Service Enterprise Group, considered for a 500,000-volt transmission line through Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties as part of the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. PSEG has since proposed an adjusted version of another alternative, Route H. | Sources: PSEG/Arcgis.com, OpenStreetMap (Staff)

Maryland Public Service Commission urged to set schedule for ruling on Piedmont project

June 10, 2025 at 5:47 p.m.

Joseph Curran, an attorney representing PSEG, said the company provided sufficient information for the commission to grant a certificate, and requested a timely procedural schedule.

Carroll school board to hear sex ed and poverty funding reports Wednesday

June 10, 2025 at 2:50 p.m.

Carroll County's school board meets Wednesday to hear a report from the Family Life Advisory Committee and a Blueprint for Maryland's Future update.

BGE Westminster Substation, Carroll Street. BGE operates a network of power substations to convert and distribute electricity. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

Regular rolling blackouts may become reality for Maryland’s energy grid

June 7, 2025 at 10:55 a.m.

Energy supply adequacy remains an issue in Maryland, and Singh said BGE would be forced to initiate rolling blackouts, in which segments of the grid are temporarily denied power, to...

Diplomas wait to be handed out prior to South Carroll High School's graduation ceremony at McDaniel College.(Thomas Walker/Freelance)

7 Carroll County high school graduations held over 4 days at McDaniel College

June 6, 2025 at 6:30 a.m.

Manchester Valley, Century, Francis Scott Key, South Carroll, Liberty, Winters Mill and Westminster High Schools celebrated hundreds of graduates at the McDaniel College Gill Center this Monday through Thursday.

Police car lights. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff)

Police say shots were fired in Finksburg Wednesday; no injuries reported

June 4, 2025 at 3:46 p.m.

Gunshots were fired in Finksburg at around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, in the area of the 2000 block of Old Westminster Pike.

The Carroll County Farmer’s Market held its Spring Fling Show featuring plants, home baked goods and handmade crafts and fine art.(Karen Jackson/Freelance)

Here’s where to find farmers markets in Carroll County this season

June 19, 2025 at 1:36 p.m.

Carroll County farmers markets open for the season in Westminster, Taneytown, Sykesville, Mount Airy, Hampstead and Union Bridge

The 3 mile railroad spur, built in 1905, for a dinky steam engine required a steel bridge to cross Spout Hill Road in Sykesville. The spur allowed Springfield hospital direct shipping access for supplies and coal.

Sykesville police find most drivers break speed limit on Spout Hill Road

June 1, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Nearly two thirds of drivers broke the speed limit on Spout Hill Road in Sykesville last week, according to Sykesville police.

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