001[music] >> Good evening. I'd like to call to order this public hearing on the 2026-2027 school budget. Today is Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for Thank you. This evening's public hearing is on the proposed 2026-2027 school budget totaling 276 million 241,856 which reflects a 4 million 35,241 increase from the 2025-2026 budget and will result in a 1.99% change in the tax levy. This evening, I'd like to call from our list, our first public speaker is Mr. Mark Stuckey. >> Good evening. Um I'm asking for 5 minutes and there's a reason for this. I'm not trying to hit you below the belt or
002anything like that. This is pertaining to the budget. To the taxpayers of the city of Mount Vernon. We know that the increase is going to be .99% For a lot of you, you're going to say it's going to hurt you. Just to back it up just a little bit, when I was coming up when I was young, there was homeowners who didn't have children as well. But they paid forward for me to be here, to for me to get the education. I know it's tough for you to wind up digging in your pocket and it's tough all the way around. Our teachers have been working without a contract for a very long time. They're they're struggling to get to work. Without the teachers, we cannot educate. And it's the bad part about it is it's
003hurting [clears throat] everyone. And I got it. Myself, I try to do everything that I can do in the district to try to keep stuff in-house to save money. But I can't do it by myself. I need your help. You have people who are putting out literature saying turn down the budget. We can't afford to turn down the budget. Give us 1 year, please. I'm asking for 1 year. You You know that I will come out and I will raise holy sand if something is not right. There was one superintendent that we had here who left us in the black way back in the day, Brenda Smith. One of the beautiful superintendents we have ever had here in Mount Vernon. And she did she had everyone to work with her to put a budget together
004back then that wind up working. Right now, we're at a critical point. And I'm not going to cover sugarcoat anything. We're brokety broke broke. And we cannot move forward to do anything to help the young people in this district with an education if we don't call on you, the taxpayers. And you know, I'm not going to stand up here and wind up talking out the left side of my mouth and do something different. I was on this board. I fought when I was here. I fought before I even got on the board. I did it after I got off the board. And I'm still doing it now. We need you. Don't listen to people when I'm saying, "Oh, no, turn down the budget." If you turn down the budget, it's going to hurt our young
005people tremendously. There was a time where Jack Jesse Jackson winded up saying, "Education is for the youth who is coming up. We cannot afford to use them lose them." They're going to be the ones who be the nurses, the doctors, the cleaners who wind up taking care of us down the road. Now, what winds up happening? Jesse Jackson passed away. And the same people who he was talking to back in the day wind up helping him when he was ill. Mount Vernon City School District now is ill, and we need you to help us. Please. I'm asking. Don't turn down this budget. If you see something wrong, say something. But without you and your presence being in this building when they have uh board meetings, without you being here, we'll lose. Your presence makes a
006lot of noise. Please, I'm asking you. You ain't you never have anybody come back up here and ask like this. Please don't turn down the budget. Thank you, superintendent. >> Thank you, Mr. Stuckey. The floor is now open for anyone else who would like to make any comments on the budget. Mr. Mitchell. >> Thank you. I don't get to talk to the to the little red sock. Um I'm just uh I'm just Mitch right now. Um so if you've been watching for the past 10 years we've watched uh just downfall, right? We've down we saw a downward spiral. Not just of students we saw a downward spiral of accountability and things like that, but we're talking about budget today. And the truth is the reason why folks are leaving is because you they're seeing their
007own teachers. So we got a lot of folks like me that I graduated from here. So when I see my own teachers retiring early, I see principals from my children who graduated high school two years ago, they're retiring. These are able-bodied folks. Not that they don't want to be here anymore. It's not that they can't do it anymore. It's that they just don't feel like it's a it's not a place to be and that speaks to the climate. And when we talk about being able to pay our teachers what they deserve and what they so that we can remain competitive what do we think was going to happen? 10 years and 6% increase over 10 years. Were we thinking about the children? Every year we came out and voted down a budget. Were we thinking
008about them taking care of us? Mr. Stuckey just mentioned how the young people had to come they came in the same people he was talking about they came to help him and take care of him when he was in his sickness. Who's going to come take care of us if all our babies have moved away from here cuz they don't want anything to do with this district because there's nothing viable left, there's nothing robust, it's it's not a district that's flourishing. What do they I want to see my grandchildren come up here and say, "Yeah, we went to school in Mount Vernon, too. We're graduating." And if I am you know, able to God willing, maybe see a couple of great grands that go to elementary school over at one of these buildings here that
009that are open. But that's not the case right now. Do you want to have it that new homeowners new home buyers who are looking to start families look right directly away from Mount Vernon School District because we have a track record of not paying taxes. I was someplace else recently one of these school districts close by that everybody likes to quote, "Oh, someone so has this and someone so." And you know what a guy said to me, I'm standing there at a at a soccer game. The guy doesn't know me from a can of paint and everybody's calling out where they're from and I said, "Yeah, I'm from Mount Vernon." He was like, "Oh, Mount Vernon, you guys don't like paying taxes." And I you know, first thing to think was you know, hook off
010on him, but you know, but I had to actually kind of think about what he said and I just basically said, "Well, I don't know you, so we'll talk about that in the parking lot." But in any event, but what he was saying was factual, right? Um between the challenges of being able to pay your taxes, but then how about what were we expecting to happen? If we're not going to put the money into invest in the education of the future, what is the future truly going to look like? And I said it before, charter schools smell blood in the water when you have a failing school district, you have financial distress, they're going to fly right in, and that's why we have all of these influx of charter schools trying to do this and
011do that. And they're not even on data showing that they're servicing the students the way they're telling parents that they are and can over our public school district. You have to make sure that you're thinking about the future when you're voting. We didn't buy our home saying, "I'm only going to pay school taxes until my kids are out." That's not the case cuz 30-year mortgage is not going to just finish up your kids in school. You got a lot more to go. So, let's make sure we're thinking about the education that they're getting and thinking about these teachers and our CSCA, our union workers, and our folks in uniform in here. Let's make sure that they're getting what they're deserved as well because they hurt for loyalty for the most part for these past 10
012years. Thank you. >> I'd like to recognize we have two people who have just come into the building. I'd like to open the floor again for anyone who would like to make a public comment. What? This is the floor's open now for um comments. There was no presentation per se. I can see. Okay. If you have a question, we would write it down and get an answer back to you. Please state your name. >> Sure. Good evening, everyone. My name is Latoya Anderson and >> [laughter] >> Um I am the mom of two daughters who went to school in this district. Um I am here today as a concerned citizen, but as a testament of the incredible potential our district harbors. My children have thrived here. The dedication and passion of our amazing teachers and
013staff Oh lord. I mean, this is a lot because there's a lot that's been going on. I've been reading a lot and I put together something that I'm I was planning to read, but I'm just going to talk um from my heart. So, here's the thing. I can attest to the dedication and commitment of teachers from three different schools. My daughters went to three different schools in this this district and every single school had amazing teachers. So, um I've noticed of course, we all know that about the tax increase issues that's been going on. But um I have a question to maybe uh the public or anyone. With our financial um distress, has anyone gone to Albany? Has anyone make trips to Albany to advocate for us getting more more foundation aid? Um, so if
014that's not the case, what are we supposed to do? Raise that. I am here today as a concerned citizen and a parent of kids who went through the district. And I'm here today because I know the capability of this district. This district is amazing and um there is so much that can be done. So um I do have something else that I wanted to share as well. So I I did my research. And Mount Vernon is currently classified as one of the few districts in New York experiencing significant fiscal distress. We have a monitor here. And I'm sure the budget was presented to the monitor before presenting to everyone. Right? We have operating deficits. We have declining reserves. We have state oversight by our monitors. Um while many districts have experienced modest increases in the
015foundation aid, I I know about some districts getting 5%. We're merely getting 1.9 3% which is so low. Um or 1.99. Thank you. Um we were forced to close three schools last year. And despite these challenges, I want to highlight as I mentioned before, the spirit of our community. Oh, it's is it timed? Oh, I didn't even realize. Um we have students. I just heard some amazing news. We have students in this district who have been accepted to Ivy League universities. Um been getting full ride to universities. It is because of our amazing teachers. So when we say investing in our future, how can we invest in our children without providing the necessary funding? This budget is increase is not just a number on a page. It represents our commitment to ensuring that all our
016children receive the quality education they deserve. So, with that being said, um I just want to know how many of us have been advocating. Meeting with our legislators, asking for more money since we don't want to, you know, an increase. Um that can be done. So, with that being said, thank you very much for everything you've been doing. Thank you, State Monitor. I'm done. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Do we have anyone else who'd like to come up? State your name for me. Thank you. >> Good evening, everyone. My name is Jerien Grant Alvarenga. And um like Ms. Anderson mentioned, I am a graduate from Auburn High School. And I can say I've done pretty well for graduating from a school system that is amazing. And I also have two kids in the district.
017And as it's stated, there's a lot of comparisons to say how this other district does well, this other one, all our neighboring district. Well, I happen to work with some amazing coworkers who also have kids in these districts that keeps getting tossed around. The issue though, if you look at our tax increases compared to theirs, you could see that they're investing. So, why do we cherry-pick and say how well they're doing without ignoring the fact that they also increases their tax a lot more than we do. You want to have the same comparison? Then you should be doing everything. You look at it a holistically, and you do the same thing they're doing, which invest in the in the in tax increases similar to theirs, and then most likely get the similar outcome. Now, I
018will not ignore the fact that there has been financial misuse. It's been stated years over years. But as I've said, yes, we need accountability. We need transparency. So, why ignore the facts of what really needs to be done and say let's hold back money. You're not doing any justice for our students by doing this. So, let's be realistic. As I've said before, cost of living has increased. We have our heating bill, as a lot of us can relate that we're paying a lot more. If we're paying more, of course it's going to be more to run these schools. Teachers, they have families. They have to take care of their family. They should be receiving pay that's comparable to their colleagues. Remember, they go home to their family as well. So, why be selfish and think
019about ourselves only? And I said to our neighbors who are saying, "I don't have kids in the school district." Well, guess what? The neighboring town that we keep comparing to, they also pick family members who are there, who don't have kids in the district, but they choose to live there, which we all know, you choose to live there, you also uh promised as a part of your mortgage that you will be paying that school taxes. So, let's be honest, invest in our future cuz these kids are our future. And I'm advocating as a property owner, I am paying taxes, too, but I also have to be realistic and know that we have to take care of future of our kids. This is the future of our community. They're as you mentioned earlier, they're our future
020doctors, they're future nurses, they're future you can think of everything else that we are. They This is our potential. Why limit our kids and prevent them from becoming what they're stated to be? And I say vote for this um increase. I think it's nominal. It could be more, but it's a start. Let's think about accountability, transparency, and fix the broken issues and not be unrealistic and say not put money in the community cuz guess what? It's only going to get worse. It's not going to make it any better. So, rethink the strategy and think really hard about what we're doing and how we're impacting our kids and the future and neighbors, family members who don't have kids, rethink what you're really doing. Think about your kids and your your future kids. It's It's It's crazy.
021So, thank you very much everyone and reconsider this budget. Let's vote for it. >> [applause] >> Thank you. Please state your name. >> Janelle Kerwin. I come with mixed emotions because I don't have any children in the school district. I have grandchildren that are in the school district. I am not a Mount Vernonite. I've been living here for 15 years and all I've been doing is paying taxes and I am conflicted with decisions that have been made. I don't even know why I'm up here speaking cuz I don't even know who I'm speaking to that's going to hear anything that's being said. And I'm speaking from my heart respectfully. Mount Vernon is a beautiful place. However, it just seems that the money that we spend, we don't know where it's going and of course when
022the bottom drops out, now there's a lot of a focus and attention. Where are the people that have been accountable that should have been accountable all this time before things get to where they are now? I am conflicted because as a senior that's retired on a fixed income living here, I have a grandson that's going to school and actually 2 weeks after school started, the teacher left. More than likely because the teacher went for an interview someplace else. You have kids that are graduating, looking for a job, got a job here. Probably wasn't the first choice, but I can guarantee you something probably opened somewhere else. And rather than staying committed to the children and to the job and to the commitment, they left. Then we have schools that have closed. I still don't understand
023what that's about. Now, a class size that used to be 17 kids are now 30-something children. It's a disservice to the children. I don't know what's going to happen by raising our budget to give more to perhaps Who's accountable for anything? I hear that there is I'm sorry, I don't know your position and title or somebody needs to come in and see what's going on because it's it's quite frustrating, especially since No, state monitor, right. I don't even understand why is Mount Vernon I mean, the neighboring municipalities, our homes are just as well nice. The taxes that we pay are pretty comparable. Yes, they may have more in their school district, but I get it. You get a 30-year mortgage. I heard Mr. Wallace say you don't just pay for 30 years, you're paying into
024the education. But for me right now with schools closing, my grandchildren that are here, yes, they're doing well, but are they really doing well by the standards? I'm public school educated, so I don't know anything about a private education, although I've given my children that before moving to Mount Vernon. But I've never paid as many tax as much in taxes as I'm paying now. And then I don't understand how the mayor controls one side, the school district is another side. It just seems to be really convoluted. And because of all of that, to me, that's where these cracks and these these gaps come. And then, of course, till it gets to the bottom, we're now being looked at and evaluated to see what is it that we can do. At the end of the day,
025we should be doing what's right in the first place for our children. So, I just don't understand how increasing a budget, and I'm not saying for those that are are um proponents of it, I just want to know how is that going to fix cuz paying more, you're taking from Peter to pay Paul and if the class sizes are going to be the same, which has gotten worse. If the teachers that we don't have are not desired to work here, it's more out of convenience than it's really out of the care of the goodness of their heart because if another job calls them that's paying them a more competitive salary, you you you know, from my all of us, we've all working people, know what it's like to have to go and try to elevate
026and do yourself something better. So, I just don't I'm just conflicted and I just wanted to speak from my heart because raising taxes is easy to say, but who is really going to be accountable for all the times? We can't keep on rewarding and paying into a kitty because we ain't never paid into the kitty, but yet still the kids are going to school and nobody's being accountable for making sure that things are being done right. So, I just hope that we figure it out and figure it out real soon. >> Thank you. Last call for any comments. Now, we will adjourn the meeting. Thank you.