Mount Vernon Board of Education Regular Business Meeting April 28 2026

001[music] Did they get that You good? >> You ready? You ready? You ready? >> I'm waiting. >> Hey. Someone someone live. I got >> testing. Mike check. Testing testing. >> Testing. Testing, testing, testing, testing, testing, testing. Testing testing testing testing testing testing. Testing testing. Good evening everyone. I apologize for the echo. Uh we're going to try and adjust it. Uh but at this point, I'd like to get the meeting started. I'd like to call to order the Mount Vernon Board of Education business meeting. Today is April 28th, 2026. Please let's stand for the pledge. >> I pledge allegiance to the roll call, please. >> Trusty Brown. Trusty Kelly. >> Trusty Mcdana. Trusty Milit. Trusty Peterson. Trusty Scott. Trusty White. >> We have Trusty White on remotely. Is she still there? >> We'll bring her We'll

002bring her We'll bring her back. She is she is here but let's we'll bring her back. We are we're having some technical difficulties this evening so please bear with us VP Mitchell and President Marb we have a quorum student trustee. >> Uh we have a pending matter before us that is very timesensitive. So at this point in time, I would like to uh ask the clerk if she would u call for a vote for moving into executive session. In addition to that, I will be recusing myself due to the nature of the matter. >> Can I have a motion please to enter enter into executive session for discussion of possible litigation? >> Motion second. >> All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. >> Motion carries. We're in the exact >> I'd like to call to

003order uh this business meeting. Uh excuse me. Uh can I I'm sorry. A return to this this business meeting. Can I have a a district clerk take a vote to return from executive session? >> Can I have a motion, please? Uh reconvene to public session. >> Motion. >> Second. Having heard a motion to properly second, can we have a vote? >> All in favor? I. Any oppose? >> Abstain. Motion carries. >> Meeting is back on. >> So, at this time, we will defer to Mount Vernon City School District Legal Council to make a statement directly to the public. Hello. That work? All right. Uh, good evening everybody. Uh, the board would like uh has asked me to make a statement uh with respect to some communications it received from members of the community regarding the

004uh candidates for the library election. Um the the communications from the community have uh included an opinion letter from the New York State Education Department Office of Council addressed to the library system regarding one of the potential candidates for the library election. Uh it is important for the community to know that the school district has not received a a nominating petition for the candidate. Uh so right now there is nothing to address. Uh the district is currently investigating the allegations and its legal responsibilities. Uh but it wants the community to know that the school district does not represent the library or the library's interests. And at this time, any concerns regarding the library candidates or their eligibility should be addressed to the library system or to the state of New York. Thank you. Thank you

005for that. And I'm going to now uh give full uh full power back to President Marabel to resume this meeting. Thank you, Vice President Mitchell. Uh we will move forward with our meeting. Uh we will have the April superintendence report at this time. Oh, look at that picture. Woohoo. [laughter] >> [gasps] >> Great evening, President Marvel, Vice President Mitchell, board trustees, students, families, and staff, and the greater Mount Vernon community. This is the superintendent report for the month of April. Next slide. I want to start off by recognizing one of our schools monitors at Lincoln School who went above and beyond in her care for our students. Last month, Miss Cynthia Hudson performed the Heimlick maneuver on to save a student who was choking. I want to thank Miss Hudson from the bottom of my

006heart for stepping up. [applause] [applause] Thanks Miss Hutton Hudson for stepping up and taking action. Our students are very precious to us and it is great to see the lengths of our staff members will go the lengths that our staff members will go to support them. Next, next slide. The budget vote on May 19th is approaching quickly and the district began presenting the draft budget and engaging with the community earlier this month following board adoption. The first two community forums were at Graham School and Pennington where I detailed how the budget will support our students in a fiscally sound and efficient manner. Our key areas of investment include special education, bilingual education, gifted, talented and enrichment programs, athletics, career and technical education, safety and security, and finally facilities. Based on the priorities of our community,

007we saw that these were the key areas to focus on to provide the most meaningful opportunities to our students. Key drivers about expenses include an increase to charter school tuition, which will cost about 17.5 million, and a projected increase in eight of 8.7% to healthc care benefits. Next slide. We have to take that version off. We have to remove that slow move in version. Uh we will continue presenting the budget with two community two additional community forums and the annual budget hearing. We will present the budget and field community feedback and questions on Monday, May 4th at 6:30 p.m. at Greater Centennial AM Zion Church and on Thursday, May 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hamilton School. The budget hearing will be held next Tuesday, May 5th, at 6:00 p.m. at the district office.

008Please attend to learn more about the budget as you prepare to vote on May 19th. I also encourage everyone in the community to check their registration and make sure they are registered to vote. More budget sessions are being planned, so be sure to check out our social media and website for more information. Next slide. That's the next one. That's not Let's go to Happy Autism Acceptance Week. Earlier today, we hosted autism acceptance day at Graham school and it was amazing to see all the families having fun and celebrating inclusion and acceptance. Thank you to everyone who came out to the for the fun day and a special thanks to everyone who organized the event including our special education parent teacher association and our teachers. For the rest of the autism acceptance week, we will continue

009to celebrate with different spirit days to show our support and acceptance for all. Next slide. State testing is here and our students in grades 3 through 8 started their math test today or will start their math test actually next week. Thank you to all of our teachers and families who put so much effort uh to ensure that our students are prepared for their test after a long year of amazing instruction. I am confident that our students are ready to achieve great things. Great luck to all. Next slide. We are so proud of all of our seniors. Excuse me. We are so proud of all of our students, but we are especially proud of all of the seniors that will walk the stage this June and receive their diplomas. To celebrate our seniors, we are launching

010the Shining On to Graduation series to highlight graduates from all three high schools. You can learn more about their accomplishments, college plans, and career aspirations. Please join us in celebrating our graduates as they get ready to take the next step on their journeys. You can watch the video highlighting Mount Vernon High School senior Zorian Barden on our social media and website. Now, next slide. Thank you to the PTA council for honoring our heroes in education at the Edith Kaplan scholarship dinner dance. 17 phenomenal individuals were recognized for their impact on Mount Vernon schools and every recognition was welld deserved. These people worked day in and day out to support our scholars and it's great to see them be recognized. The event also raises muchneeded scholarship funds for our graduating scholars and you can continue donating

011online to support our students. Thank you again to our amazing PTA and um we do have a few PTA members in the audience so if we can give them a quick [applause] next slide. Huge congratulations are in order for our mock trial team at steam who managed to finish eighth place overall in just their second year of competition. Mach trial is a fantastic way for students to learn and practice rhetorical skills that will help them throughout their lives and I am proud to see them already having great success. First place is insight for next year. And I want to personally thank um our wonderful teacher, Miss Wallace, for her guidance and direction of that mock trial team. [applause] In my last meeting with the superintendent's advisory council, we do we dove deep into the code

012of conduct. Input from students on the code of conduct is so important because it affects them on a day-to-day basis and they can see exactly how it is implemented on the school level every day. This discussion will help guide us as we rework our code and students were encouraged to join our code of conduct committee meetings to ensure that their voices are represented fully in our policy. Next slide. Benjamin Turner fifth graders recently celebrated their achievement in I Ready and Ma and math common assessments after receiving effective scores on the test. Congratulations to our students and teachers on their great work. One of our top goals for this year was to increase achievement by at least 5% across core subjects. And it is great to see the work being done in our schools. Our district-wide

013goal is 44% proficiency in fifth grade math and the entire fifth grade at Benjamin Turner managed to reach 52%. This great work, [applause] this great work is happening in all of our schools and I am excited to see it continue and I want to uh per uh personally thank uh Miss Hood at Benjamin Turner Academy for her wonderful work with our students. We value our family and community connections greatly and this past month featured several activities that helped to advance those connections. Families were invited, Next slide. Families were invited for literacy night at Graham School and pasta night at Hamilton where they were able to connect with their children while also engaging with their school community. Families got involved in educa in education at Rebecca Turner Academy where they joined their children to release butterflies

014after learning about their life cycles in pre kindergarten. Students at Hamilton and Mandela School learned a valuable lesson about community involvement when they made thoughtful cards to send to patients going through difficult times. And finally, I want to thank the Mount Vernon Public Library for their generous donation of books to Hamilton School. Thank you. [applause] Next slide. Gotcha. Getting the right nutrition is so important to a child's education, and that effort is led by food service manager Donna Jackson in our district. Miss Jackson was recognized by New York State's Office of General Services this month for her outstanding work in our schools. We would like to thank her as well for the important work she does to keep our students fed and energized for learning. Congratulations on the rec on this recognition. Congratulations, Miss Jackson.

015[applause] Next slide. At the beginning of this month, we celebrated Assistant Principal Week. And I'd like to say once again, thank you to all of our amazing assistant principles. The work you do to support our schools is so valuable, and we appreciate you every single day. Thanks. Yes. And here's the here's the worst slide to present. Unfortunately, due to snow days, we were required to reinstate Friday, May 22nd as a school day to meet state requirements for minimum school days. The day will be an in-person half day for students and staff. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I can apologize for the snow. But we need to ensure that all of our students meet all the requirements needed to progress progress in their education. Please adjust your calendars accordingly and thank you for your cooperation.

016Next slide. And with that, I will take any of your questions. >> Do we have any questions for Dr. Strickland for on the superintendent's report for April? Okay, Trusty Peterson, >> I just I just wanted to um thank Dr. Strickland for uh I attended the last budget meeting and also your cabinet members that attended as well at Pennington and um it was informative. You gave us some very good and uh abysmal facts, but you know, it's it's it's it's realistic. Um and I appreciate it. Um, also I attended the the autism awareness event today. It was amazing. Thank you so much to SEPTA and thank you for supporting Edith Kaplan. Also, the scholarship didn't dance as well. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other comments or uh questions on the report? Vice President Mitchell. >> Um

017the for the for the um for the food service. Yes, we definitely do appreciate Donna Jackson for what she's she's doing. Um I I'm wondering are we going to hear a report from her soon on latest developments and again on what the kids are eating because I'm I I have my I just I I'm I'm um I'm very interested. >> I'm going to use the word interested in what the what the babies are being fed. Um the the survey is still on the district site. It's going to be up until May 22nd. I believe that only about 55 or 60 people have uh participated and taken that survey online. There are so many more children in the district who are who do rely on or do or just deny the food and those are the

018students that we really need to hear from as well. We know that we keep hearing students, you know, for different reasons. And I thought it was interesting to hear that old school idea that, oh, if you eat free lunch, it's like, oh, you're you're a lame or whatever. That's still in effect. kids still don't eat school lunch just because they get kind of like bullied about it. But then there's that other portion that just don't like the food because of what it looks like, what it tastes like, what it is. And that's what I want to still focus on. I want to hear about looking forward to hearing a presentation from her soon. >> Uh thank you VP Mitch for uh raising those points. Uh just an FYI, as you can see on the district's

019website, I made it um a popup. Uh so it's the first thing that you see when you go to the website. Um I've also asked the technology department. I've also asked the technology department to push the survey out to the student laptops and iPads so that they can actually um take it. Um and then we will continue to um follow up with our school principles to ensure that they are creating time during the day so that this can happen. And once we compile those results, uh Miss Jackson will be back at a work session uh to present uh what's going on with food services as well as what has happened um as a result of the survey. Any other questions, comments? Trusty Brown. Um um Trustee Mitchell, I will be making a little bit of

020a little report for the committee reports. Um because part of the health and safety and facilities um we walk around and we look at each um cafeteria and um I've been taking pictures and documenting it. And so, um, because I'm new in this role, I have been noticing the food and how it's prepared and the different options that are offered to our students. And it is a plethora of choices now. And um, when I'm in a contact with the kids when I'm there, they're all like they're very excited to have lunch. So, it hasn't been that old school mentality anymore. Um, so which is nice. Um my daughter does attend the district and she is very excited about the choices and every day it's like I had this for breakfast and I had this for

021lunch. Um and I've even gone into the school and some kids weren't eating lunch. I'm like why are you not eating? He's like well we don't know. And I go well let's try it. So I told my daughter I say let them know and they they've all tried it and next thing you know it's a line of kids lined up to go get the lunch. So I think it's also that peer pressure per se to um to have you know a girl or a friend or a guy to eat the lunch and then someone else sees it. So, um community, please encourage your kids to try the lunch, have the lunch. Um it's it's for them. They don't have to pay. It's not a cost. Um and it is tasty. Um even when they had

022um when we had the parent involvement day, um the kids were excited. The parents were excited to see what the kids were eating. And so, let's just encourage them to um partake in the meal options that the district is giving them. >> All right. So, perhaps we may need some food ambassadors, right? Some Oh, I have a I have an appeal if you get if you get me there at the end. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. So, >> don't steal my thunder. >> Oh, sorry. So, I was just making an observation. Trustee Mitchell, you had another comment. >> Yeah. The only thing is so and I think that there's value. We talked about before time and time again the breakfastes, right? So, at one point we used to have hot breakfast. It was coming in

023hot bags. We had, you know, eggs and cheese, sausage, and all that seemed to have fallen off. I remember being here to to fight to get that to happen. It happened and then it went away. But I think that there's value in also um educating our community, our parents at large. Um I had a I had a picture sent to me and it was a it was a bin and it had cheese sticks and uh grape juice and maybe it was a a blueberry muffin or something like that. But the thing about it is what the food service company that gives, what the students are fed, the nutritional facts are not the same as what we get as consumers in a regular store. So if we go and get a honey bun ourselves from out

024of the store, it's going to have 3,800 ingredients, right? But the what the what the children are fed based on the guidelines, the nutritional guidelines that the food services company has to adhere to, the nutrients are way different. It's less sugar. There's more grain. There's It's just completely different. It's more fiber. Now, it's still about presentation, right? Cuz I know good and well if my child comes home and show tell me I had a polyio string cheese in a muffin on a state exam day, I'm I'm pretty I'm pissed off. I'm like, what are you talking about? Cuz how But you got to listen to how it's explained because you got the protein, you got the grain, you got the bit of sugar from the juice, but there was there should also be milk. But

025the the it was about the and trusty um Brown, it's about the options like you said. So I'm very interested to see what those options are looking like in the schools that you're seeing these options in cuz the grade levels are different. So the high schools, they get a different whole that plethora you mentioned is definitely in the high school level, but my concern is also at the elementary six to that middle school level. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Let's move on to the March treasures report from our treasurer, Mr. Joe Lynn. We apologize for some of the static. For some reason, we're having some technical difficulties with our Yeah, we just zoom in on the chart portion so a little easier for everybody. Great. Um, so good evening trustees, Mount Vernon community, students,

026staff for the March uh report. Uh, we continue to have great uh cash flow as you can see from this chart. We're um doing much better than we were last year at this point. Um this puts us in great position as we head into the end of the year where there are some sizable payments that are going to be coming up. There's a big balloon payment at the end of the year that covers salaries for the months of July and August. And there's also the tan that we had earlier in the year that's going to have to be paid off. We continue to uh see invoices from previous years to come in. Um you know, I just actually saw one today. So this putting us in a good cash position is vital to us be

027to be able to account for that. Um the on the um we also had just under a million dollars in outstanding checks. Um, there's some stuff there as well where, you know, as we go through the year, some of it will clear out, but some of these checks actually go pretty far back. They're several years back and they're just sitting out there. So, I think we're going to go through an effort to review them and things that are too old, we're just going to start voiding them so that it's not sitting out there forever. As you can see from the cash flow, which is the next page, so you'll see that we're going to continue to have some revenues coming in. Uh the big revenue items for this month has been in the tax collection.

028Um you know, you're seeing some trail end of that. Um then the state aid receipts are still continuing to come in and then Bosey's uh aid also came in. So um now in the next few months you're going to see the reverse where expenses are going to start to uh take away from the revenue. On the appropriation side, um there was a great amount of work done to review um open POS and that's actually freed up some of the money that's been sitting there in the POS which is why you see compared to last month there's a higher percentage of available funds. Um that's really good for us in terms of having the funds to be able to move things around and and pay for things when uh money is locked up in the POS

029and they're not being used. it makes it very difficult for us to uh find the money to pay for things. Um there are also um a lot of invoices that are not tied to POS. So we're continuing to uh review those. Um that makes it a little bit hard for us to gauge sort of what would be coming. Usually the POS give us a good read. that'll continue to improve as we start to reinforce some processes and procedures to enforce uh the use of POS. Um this month I've added a additional report. So this is entail last month uh last board meeting we approved a sizable amount of budget transfers. So in this month uh I've started the practice of adding the budget transfer activities. So in the in the coming uh months you'll you'll

030get a read of what is the transfers that's going on? Okay. >> Uh Mr. Jolen, is this the appropriate slide for what you're addressing right now or do we need to advance these slides? >> Uh the the budget transfers, I don't have a a chart or anything. Uh it's just a section that describes it. We'll continue to evolve that section in the coming months. >> Thank you. Um, I won't go through the backup uh material. The details are in the packet that's available on board docs. So, I'll leave everybody to go through those details. >> Thank you, Mr. Jolen, for your report. Do we have any questions? Hold on. Trusty Peterson, leadership goes last. um in reviewing I'm sorry, let me just um a question as to where are we with uh receiving payments from

031the city that they um for the back back tax money that they owe us. Have we received any payments for this year? >> Um we we did we did get some payments of back tax back taxes. I do see the tax collection. Um um but I don't know if those are actually coming in from the city. I know we are in discussions with the city to to put them on a plan to do the payments. Um we were supposed to meet in early uh April. That's been delayed. So we're trying to get that on the calendar with the city. >> Um um Trusty Peterson, we do have a meeting tomorrow with the city regarding the back taxes. Any other questions? Uh, Trustee, uh, Vice President Mitchell. >> So, I I really appreciate it, uh, Jolen,

032for this this presentation and the these presentations you keep giving. They're they're solid and they're helpful. Um, and the cadence that you're giving them to us is very appreciated. Thank you. Um, so when you're talking about POS, >> Mhm. >> Right. So for the for the community at large when when you cut a PO it's a purchase order so that a vendor can basically provide us services or goods that dollar amount on that PO says how much that vendor can charge us correct >> yeah so so I the way to describe PO is a allocation of money for planned product or services that you're going to purchase >> right so for you to tell us that we're vetting through the POS and we're now closing out those old POS that were just left open. That

033speaks to it does speak to prior practices and how we're moving forward to clean up all these open POS because basically those are uh what they call um uh I can't think of the word. Um uh whatever I forget liabilities. >> Well, I I wouldn't say liabilities, but they're they're held money, right? It's it's kind of like if at home if you set aside money for let's say a remodel project, >> right, >> and you don't close out your remodel project and the money just sits there and you never use it. So that that's really the problem with open POS. Um generally in most school districts at least twice a year you're going to go through a review to close out any POS cuz plans change. Sometimes at the beginning of year you think hey

034I'm going to buy these things. Then as you go through the year, you don't end up buying it. But if you don't go back and review, the money is just going to sit there locked up. Um, so that's why you see the freeing up of the money. Now I have money that I can actually move where we're short things like that. >> Okay, then thank you for that. So the only other thing I had is Dr. uh Strickland, you just uh mentioned the this is is this is this on board docs now? Can you see this? So, we were talking about the fact that so much of the community is not necessarily aware of what the city has been paying us, what months we've received the money from the city and what years they've been

035paying. Now, we talked about it live in front of the public several times over the past years. Now, we do under we we already discussed that the city was paying us upwards of 400 and someone's like 450,000 a month and they paid consistently and that was toward the 2019 2020 year. >> That is correct. >> So, we're now getting ready to have conversations if I believe I can say we're getting ready to have conversations about what they owe in 2021 21223 23 24. >> This is what we're about. We have this is an ongoing mission that we have to stay on. So I want to point out that you can now look at the board docs and you can see a line on the budget that says property taxes from city and it can you

036can see how much we receive from the city each month. Now, that's something that wasn't there before, but it's there now so that you have the ability to kind of get your own vision on it at whatever time you want to look at it. It's there. You can see it. It should be helpful. Okay. Just a couple of things. I would just like to liken purchase orders almost like a a home equity loan maybe where you can actually draw down funds. You can take out a loan and then you can use them or not use them. So, if if they stay open, that money kind of sits there available to you. But if you don't use it, you know, at some point you have to close it out because, you know, you don't want it

037to just sit there open. Um, the second thing is we're not beginning to have the conversations. We've been having the conversations. Our legal council has prepared the information that they need to prepare in order to work with the city. We have been working with the city for them to prepare reconciliations to ensure that the monies that we say that they owe us, that they actually owe us. Um we had a previous meeting back in March I believe um with the budget committee with the uh controllers's office and during that discussion there has been there was an acknowledgement that they would begin um an agreement with us in April that did not occur by the date that it was supposed to happen but we are meeting tomorrow to follow up and hopefully that we will have

038a resolution shortly in terms of how those funds will be repaid and when We talk about monies being received this year, we have to remember we're talking about this fiscal year. Maybe not necessarily this calendar year because we have not received any funds from the city in 2026. However, we did receive funds from July 1 through September 2025, which is inclusive of the school year. And I just want to be clear in terms of how the process works. And I also want the city to know and understand and the trustees to understand that we will always be two years behind. and collections because of the law and how we are to collect the funds from the city. The city um we collect the funds. We we we have a reconciliation. We have to certify and

039then they pay us. But they have two years. Okay. So, just to let you know that there's always going to be a two-year lag on how we collect. So, I mean, if I if I'm misspeaking, um Dr. Strickland or um Trusty McDonald who's been um boots on the ground with this process, please correct me. So, um, and Dr. Strickland, I believe you have a comment. >> Yep. Uh, you're absolutely correct. President Marble, uh, just wanted to make mention that, uh, in the past there was no true standardized operating procedure as it pertains to when we were going to stop um, you know, stop collecting taxes for a certain portion of the uh, in the certain portion of a year. And uh that is actually what the two legal councils uh actually got on writing u

040in writing. So we officially know that there's a process moving forward where we are not going to get in the predicament of having this lag and not be receiving money on a a constant basis. Um, so I do want to thank um, Council Royce uh, Coun Council Russell uh, for uh, being diligent in getting that done. >> Do we have any other questions or comments regarding the treasures report? If none, thank you uh, Treasurer Jolyn. Appreciate you. >> Oh, you have one. >> Oh, no. >> The next item is also me, >> right? Okay. No, I'm I'm I'm just referring to the treasures report. I'm moving next to the next item on the list. Uh the review of budget adjustments done at the April 7th work session. >> Yeah. So this should be quick. Um

041I just wanted to sort of you know bring it full circle for for the board. So last work at the work session we approved a lot of transactions to really bring the budget to get rid of the negatives. Um so now uh like everything else the budget money is constantly changing. So by the time I go in and make adjustments, some of the numbers are different from when I present it to you. So in order to give you full visibility and transparency, these are the actual transactions that were executed um following the approval. And then the back side, I gave you a uh budget that reflects what happened after all those transactions. So you get to see we were able to clear out all the negatives. That being said, uh the couple things that you

042know we did learn that there's uh processes and and and things that still continue to have to be fixed. We're seeing negatives again in a few account codes. Um by having corrected things, it's actually bring to light some of the things that's causing the negatives. So um so that whole exercise was very helpful and and and productive. >> Okay. Thank you so very much. If there's nothing further, then we will move to communications from the Oh, Trusty Mcdana. >> Sorry, just a brief budget. Uh, is this is now the time to do that before? >> Uh, you can do it now. It's fine. You can do it now. >> Yeah. Uh, the budget committee met on the 22nd and most of the focus was on the budget book. We have a draft tonight that will

043be um finalized. >> The draft budget book will be available tomorrow on the budget website. Great. Thank you. Uh so that that's really what the focus was. We also touched upon uh the the process for getting the money flowing from back taxes and again we're meeting tomorrow as you pointed out. Um and that's that's pretty much it. That was the focus of the meeting. So thank you. >> Okay. Thank you so very much. We will move to communications from the public. We do apologize for um we did have some uh executive session items we needed to address earlier and we did have some sound quality issues we had to address but now we are ready to hear from our public. Please note the inf the uh statement from the board regarding public expression um and

044the pre-public comment statement regarding what the requirements are. It is a three minute uh we can set the clock for three minutes. you will have one minute to wrap up and please please refrain from uh personnel matters during your comments. Thank you so very much. The first person that we have tonight is Cynthia Crrenshaw. Don't start yet. Okay. My name is Cynthia Krenshaw and I'm here as you know. Have anybody been to the Black Museum in Washington DC? Okay. So, you understand why your president is trying to suppress our history? Cuz it is horrible. But you are doing the same thing. Why are this board keeping Cecil H. Parker picture in the basement? I went to the church to talk to the people at the church about the bell and they say that in the

0451900s which is before I guess all of our time they used to ring the bell to let them know that school was in session. You would not have known about that bell if I had not went to the school and told you where the bell was. Why do you have it locked up in the room over there? The library has requested several times to move the picture at the library because we have students coming into the library every day and especially on Saturdays we have the library um set up for the Girl Scouts and I believe this Saturday having a special presentation there also. Why not let our citizens and our students see this Cecil Harker picture? Why you being so hardnosed and keeping it in the damn basement where nobody can see it? At

046least at the library, they can see it. The bell, it's a nice place we can put it right there in the hallway. And I know you said that you took a motion that it was to stay here, but that's not true. You took that motion to move the picture here, not to live here. So, I'm asking that you take another vote or where that picture should be and let the citizens of Mount Vernon know. and the students let them know about our history. It's very important. I meant to bring you the brochure on what she did and how she got to be where she is with most of you know that she was the first black teacher in Westchester County. Moving on from that, I want to talk about Rebecca Turner lunchroom. That is a

047disgrace. I meant to bring you pictures from other lunchrooms so you can see how our lunchroom is at Rebecca Turner. We have You have one water fountain in a building that has four floors. One water fountain. That's ridiculous. That is ridiculous. In the lunchroom, you had boxes around where the teachers are afraid that something might jump out the box. You were supposed to be coming over there to look at Rebecca Turner one day and that did not happen as far as I know. And one more thing, as far as the breakfast, you heard that song. I had my good days. I had my bad days. That's how our breakfast is. Sometimes it's good, but sometimes it is not. I'm sorry. I'm in the school. I see what our elementary kids are eating. And we have

048good days, bad days. Another thing as far as your lawyer saying about the library, let's stay in our let's stay in our lanes. Them people is talking about the library and term limits is talking about you guys, too. It's all on Facebook. Don't vote for the budget. They're talking about you. They're talking about the library. So, I'm telling you, don't I mean, you can listen to it because they have their right to say, but the kiddo should not call the park black. Stay in your lane. Everybody stay in your lane and we'll be okay. But please think about Rebecca. No, not Rebecca. Cecil H. Parker pictures. Please. Okay. Please. And that's why your president wanted to close down some of those things at the uh museum because it was terrible. And we are doing the

049same thing. Let our children know about our history in Mount Vernon. The bell, it used to be in the 1900. They used to um ring the bell. I went over to the church to ask them. They said they sent the bell to one of the schools, but he couldn't tell me what school. But of course, I know Nathan Hill. That's what he sent it to. So, please be considerate. Let's vote again about that picture and the bell. Stay in your lane. We'll stay in our lane. Thank you. >> Okay. So, uh, Miss Krenshaw, I would like to, um, just address the question about the portrait. As you know, it is an asset. We had to discuss it in executive session. We are in discussions about the portrait. However, we did have to have it appraised.

050And I would like at this particular point in time for our state monitor who has been working with us in order to get that portrait appraised if she could just give you a a brief update as to where we are with it. >> I appreciate um normally I don't speak so I'm going to be very brief. I'm a social studies teacher so you know that portrait is very important to me just as a historian. So absolutely and so I the budget's tight so we got to be careful about the appraisal. I found somebody in the area who could free um do the appraisal for free. So, she's in the process of doing that right now. So, give me about two more weeks and we should have that all set up because we have to get

051it appra appraised in order to u loan it out to the library. That's state mandate. We had no choice about it. We have to put a value on it. Even if it's like let's say it's $5,000, we still have to appraise it at the $5,000 and then let the library um go ahead and do the portrait in the library. But whoever gets the portrait, we do have to have it appraised and then we have to put a value on it and then actually ensure it because it's actually district property. So give me two more weeks. Two more weeks and we're we're we're there. >> What? >> No, no, no. Right now you guys have the library getting the picture. So I'm just saying >> we haven't voted so she can't commit. >> I can't commit

052to anything. >> No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's it's I guess it's really about the legalities of it. And so again, you you all want the library. It could go to library A, library B, whatever you this board votes on. We just have to make sure it's appraised at the appropriate value. Again, two weeks. Give me two weeks. Okay. All right. >> Don't forget to stay in your >> Superintendent Strickland would like to um also address you. Yes, Miss Craw. Um Oh, no. You're good. Wherever you're comfortable. Okay. >> As long as you don't respond to them, you're good. >> Yep. That part. No, I'm just kidding. Okay. >> Hey, Miss Krenshaw, thank you for bringing that information about Rebecca Turner Academy. I just want you to know uh that one

053of the things that we are in the process of doing because in my visits, >> I have noticed the same things, okay? And have not been pleased uh with the lack of water bubblers that we have in our schools. Uh we have um a an organization or a company um that our facilities um are working with and we are in the process of adding water bubblers to more of our schools so that they have the opportunity to >> drink water like everyone else. Um and and I just want you to know that that is in the works. >> Okay. What happened to my furniture that was coming from Parker School to make our um lunchroom look presentable? >> Now, I said that you cannot go back and forth with [laughter] >> So, that's that that's

054that's a question for another day. >> Okay. I'm sure he captured it though. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Your two men your three four minutes been up, Miss Craw. All right. All right. Okay. So moving on to we have Latoya Anderson. >> Hi everyone. Good evening. Uh my name is Latoya Anderson and I'm here on behalf of the Mount Vernon PTA Council. We also have Michelle Rio and uh Jerianne Grant with us. Um I just would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to teachers, staff, board members, uh Dr. Strickland uh for your unwavering support and and for attending the Edith Kaplan scholarship dinner dance. Um it was great to see everyone there. We had over 400 uh attendees and seeing everyone coming together for such meaningful cause was truly inspiring.

055um the smiles on everyone's faces, you know. You know, it could be um a matter of different um factors, but it was good to see all those smiles on everyone faces. It truly um reaffirmed our shared commitment to our children in Mount Vernon and their future. And that is what everything that is what why we do what we do. Um, so in in saying that, we just want to thank you again, and I know Dr. Strickland mentioned it in his report, but we are truly grateful. We raised over $20,000. We're still um accepting. Thank you. Um, [applause] we're still accepting donation and this will go through to all um the three high school students from the three high school. scholarship is now open. It is an application process. They they will need to complete their

056the application, see their counselors for the application and the deadline is uh May 29th. So um >> yes, and we also honor the eighth grade students from all high school. We present them with a $100 um for uh citizen award. So this is all going back to the children and we thank you. Thank you Trustee Mcdono for keeping your word. It was great to see every um yes every single board members that are present here tonight were there and and Mr. Lim thank you so much. So I just wanted to um and the cabinets thank you all again for attending. We appreciate you guys. Thank you. We Yes. We just want to say um Miss Anderson, I just want to say for the PTA council that it is always the event of the year. Um

057the Edith Kaplan event, it's always so so warm, so engaging. It's fun. I mean, I I love the the dances when the music when the uh honores come up and they're doing the shimmy. I saw some surprises that I didn't expect. And I will tell you that it is always fun to dress up and it really is a great great great event and a lot of people do support. So thank you for the support that you give us. [laughter] [applause] Gerine Alboringga. >> Good evening everyone. So I'm here as a parent and a parent in the community with kids in the school district. So I do have a vested interest. I know the budget has been presented and um there's been issues that frankly irk my nerves for the last couple of years. There's been

058information that has been shared that I felt um I was deceived as a community member and as a parent with a lot of issues that were taking place that were uncovered. However, um my main concern is with what's taking place now with the budget and everything that's going on. I'm trying to say to all parents and this is really for them to understand that what we're here now, it took over 10 years or probably longer to get here. It's also going to take more time to fix it. It's not going to be fixed overnight. Now, I've heard several complaints about um raising taxes, etc. And again, I'm here as a parent and a vested community member who is a property owner and I have children in the school. Let's be honest and be realistic. Everything

059is there's a cost increase for everything. there's um if you think about your home heating oil, anything that you can think of is increased. So to say that there's no way to increase their taxes is very unrealistic. And if someone asks that you can't just focus on unrealistic things and think it's going to work. It will never work. Now let's focus on what the real concerns are. The real concern should be transparency. That how much percent is going to be increased by, where is that money going, and accountability. Let's be honest. Let's see what it's going to be doing for her kids. So, all parents out there, please, I'm saying show up. Get your information. Get your facts. Do not rely on propaganda or misinformation out there. Google works. And if you're not sure, Google,

060I always say I'm not a finance person and I don't want to dumb it down. So, please excuse if I say 1 plus 1 equals 2. If you um going to say my checkbook has $0, but I made a check payment for $10. Where is that money coming from? It's going to come from your overdraft if you have one. If you don't have overdraft, it's going to be negative. So, let's be realistic. If the money is not there, if there's not increases based on everything else that's going on around in this country, it will never happen. And you have to be realistic and let's take the noise and the distractions away and focus on what's really important. Transparency, accountability, make sure we know where our money is going and how it's impacting our kids. This

061is all about our kids' future. And for the parents who are, well, I shouldn't say parents, the community members who do not have kids in the school district. I always say this, this is a shared responsibility. You're a property owner. Whatever happens to this school district does affect your property value. So if you don't plan to live in Mal Vernon, if you do business in Mount Vernon, this also impacts you. So let's not pretend that, oh, I don't have kids. I don't have kids in the school. So this, oh, I don't care what happened. It does affect you. And if you do care about your neighbor's kids, I have parents here that still are they're property owners. And I remind my mom, you have grandkids. This is their future. So this is just as important.

062Why are we doing this? We need to focus on our kids and focus on the community. It makes it better for everyone. Mount Vern and Thrive, we all benefit from this. You're a business owner, it's a benefit for everyone. So, let's focus on the reality and be realistic and get away from all the distraction and all the noises because it makes no sense. Reality, realistic, common sense, and how to balance a simple checkbook. It needs to make sense. Thanks everyone and have a great night. >> Thank you. [applause] That concludes public comment tonight. We will move on to our consent agenda. These were items that we reviewed during our work session. So we will be cap capturing them in one vote. I would like to um entertain a motion for resolution items 5.1 through 8.1.

063>> I have a first and a second. Do I have any discussion? Hearing none call. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Trusty Middleton. It is >> Dr. Strickler. >> So, uh, yeah. So, for 5.7 we had to we already had that information. Um, and then you will see later that it was um, rescended and that is also in this. >> Yeah, that one will be voted on later. Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. Ready for the vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. >> Motion carries. Thank you. We're going to move on to items that were submitted after the work session. Many of these items are personnel items. Um they are items 9.1 through 9.23. I'm going to ask the board members >> 24 9.24. [snorts] I'm going to ask the board members to review

064them. I will give you a few moments to do so and then I will entertain a motion. I will entertain a motion when you're ready. >> Can I have a motion, please, for 9.1 through 9.24? Okay, we have a motion on the floor for 9.1 through 9.24. Do we have any discussion? >> No. >> Okay. Thank you, Trusty White. >> I'm sorry. >> No, no, no. You're fine. You're fine. So, all in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Okay. Thank you. >> Just from the one. Yes. >> Are you abstaining just for 9.10? >> Okay. Thank Thank you. Just for the record. >> Okay. >> Moving forward. 10.1. Do we have any committee reports or board comments? Trusty Mcdana. >> First, I apologize for jumping the gun. I should have looked down and seen

065that the budget would have been down here. I apologize. >> It's not a problem. Um, just briefly regarding the IDA, we have a meeting uh two weeks from this Thursday. Uh, we received a rebuttal letter from Ginsburg, which is the heritage project where Fund City is going into the old Bed Bath and Beyond. They were looking for or they are looking for an extension of their pilot that began in 2005 to go through 2045. Um, you guys all saw the response we gave. I put another draft response to this rebuttal. Um, if you guys can take a look at it, that would be great because I'd like to get that back to them. It's likely to be on the budget on on the uh agenda for the next meeting and I'd like to give them

066enough chance to to respond. My, you know, my sense is uh fund city's opening up. Um, they have a pilot through 2031 right now. Why would we give them one that far out into the future? I I you know and again remember there most of the tax abatement will come from this school district. It's been an 85% tax abatement for for this for this developer. Um so please take a look at that and let me know. Thanks. >> Okay. I'm asking for the board members to please respond no later than Wednesday then I'm sorry Thursday noon. Is that that work for you? Thursday noon. If we don't hear any responses by Thursday noon then we will move forward with the response that was drafted. Thank you. Any other board reports? Trusty Brown, you have something.

067>> Good evening, everyone. Take this. So, I am going to do a mini report for um the food service portion. Um, I would like to reiterate that the Sedexo spring feedback survey is currently live um on the district website and has been pushed to students or will be pushed to student devices. Um, if we get a thousand students to respond, we will have a special treat during a late um May, early June meal service once the survey is closed. So, we're definitely encouraging students and families and students and faculty to um go ahead and do the survey. Um, another thing is the ACE students at Mount Verna High School under the leadership of Bridget Marx Jackson and Miss Rochelle King have partnered with Tuskegee agricultural graduate and IB educator Kendra Brochington to launch their growing

068season, the district's growing season. and the international balorate students are assisting the a students to plant seedlings and prepare the greenhouse. Um let me see what else the district is doing a lot. So um sometimes it's a lot um that we try to make sure that we are catching the community up on. And um I think that's it. I'm going to close with that. >> Trusty Scott. Thank you Trusty Brown. the Oh, any questions or comments for Trusty Brown's report? Vice President Mitchell, >> is that that's the greenhouse at the high school, right? Okay. So, this is beautiful. So, we're actually seeing that move forward cuz we had talked about it. There was some delays and it's moving forward. This is great. At one point, I'm just going to share with you because I don't

069know if you know, at one point there used to be beds in many different schools that were used for planting. We had a gardening initiative right here at um Honor Academy home school years ago. Um there were we had teachers who actually had connects to get a soil and things like that and the students I mean all grades were going out and and and it would be really cool to bring that initiative back to the district or at least talk about it if it's still happening because a lot of times there would the the beds the boxes I know at Graham they were pl the boxes were still there they were they were in bad shape because nobody was taking care of them in between. Okay. Thank you. Trusty Brown, you have a response? >>

070I do. Um so, um with Donna Jackson, um she had applied for a grant so that we can get these boxes going around the district and while we've done some facility walkthroughs, there are a lot of opportunity for us to have um that type of partnership. Um and I was excited about it because I think it'll be something really great. So, part of this grant is going to allow us to do that. So, she's working on that to see where we are and the funding. Maybe Dr. Dr. Strickland may have a a closer update, but I know we were working on that. >> Yep. >> Dr. Strickland. >> Yes, that grant was officially submitted uh by the uh executive director of strategic development and in consultation with uh Miss Jackson. And um I'm I'm just

071I'm very happy about with what's going on. And I also want to make mention that um there is a cadre of volunteers um that have been you know going to um feed the feeding Westchester site at the Parker School and um they've added the actual uh greenhouse and the garden in the back of Mount Vernon High School to uh their list of places that they plan to affect. Um, so that's very exciting what's going on overall. >> Um, and I know that trustee uh Kelly, if she were here tonight, she would be excited about that because she has been a champion for that greenhouse at the high school. And I just want to acknowledge that. She has fought long and hard to ensure that our children have um an opportunity to utilize that that uh

072piece of property and that edifice. So, I know she'd be excited. Jesse Brown, you have something else? >> I know. I'm sorry, man. So, there will be a healthy kids, healthy futures, understanding fat in our diet on Wednesday, May 6, um, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. here at the district. So, we're inviting family and students and staff and community members to come out again, healthy kids, healthy futures, understanding fat in our diet. And that's going to be Wednesday, May 6 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. here at the district. Come out and get some good information. Okay, I'm done now. >> Thank you. Do I think Trusty Scott is glad that he's next? [laughter] >> It's all good. I had a five-page document here to share with you guys, but I'm just going to break

073it down to five points. Um, the technology education committee has been doing some great work. It may not be known to a lot of people. It's not very sexy in terms of the work that's being done, but I can guarantee that a lot of work is being done where people, the community will be very excited as we move into the years with respect to um technology. But we met on April 15th. We had a very um I guess um how can we say a very robust conversation with regards to what the next steps would be with respect to technology. We met the deadline and submitted a district's NICED required instructional technology plan for 2026 through 2029, which is excitement. [applause] >> All right. The meeting, this meeting provided us with an opportunity um to review

074and support the finalization of the ITP. Um and we definitely shared our submission with um the LIRC for regional review. So, we are waiting to hear back. If we haven't heard back already, I don't know. But, um, we're waiting to hear back in regards to what we submitted. And I feel that what we did submit will, um, move us very far in, um, regards to what Mount Vernon is used to around technology. Um, lastly, but not least, we're going to be starting to work on the creation of standard operating procedures, which is something that the district definitely needs in order to guide our work and make sure that we are doing the things that need to be done and that our students are receiving the equipment and the assistance and the maintenance and everything that

075is required for them to learn and um get through their um instruction. So that is my report, but I just wanted to say how excited it is to know that we have something um that we can actually touch and see that will move us forward um in the next couple of years. So thank you. >> Thank you. Do we have any comments or Okay, great. Fabulous. Um Dr. Strickland, >> no. Uh Trusty Scott, uh just um you forgot to add that we are talking about the maintenance plan for next school year and how we are going to ensure that we deploy laptops, iPads the correct way in the beginning of the year so that no student has an issue in the beginning of the year the way they did this year. Um so yeah, no,

076I I definitely thank you for um adding that. I had that, but all that other stuff you guys were doing made me forget. [laughter] >> Okay. >> All right. Trust uh our ex official student um trusty adoro, you have a report tonight. >> I mean, yeah. Um I would like to update, you know, um community about how things have been going on recently. Um even though it's uh been slow and steady, I mean, slow has been steady in the process. And when I mean by that, I mean um everything the maintenance um for example uh doors that don't have locks on it. I recent u one of my teachers actually who hasn't got unlocked for like 3 years finally got it today and she was extremely happy. She started locking us out of classrooms. But

077I'll say that uh yeah she was happy. Um, and actually I was like, you know what? I going uh last week I was actually going to say I was going to bring this up to the board until like the day before the board meeting and all of a sudden the door was fixed, which was kind of ironic. I'll say that. Um, but another issue I would say is uh last week I realized was a hot uh very hot week. Um, and uh some some classes in the building didn't have air conditioning. Um I know it's been an issue that has been brought up to the board several times uh about specifically how other schools that we closed down had um extra air conditions and they wanted to bring it in. Um but uh I mean

078we cannot wait until the day when someone perhaps collapses from heat stroke before it comes to bigger issues for us. So I'll just say that. Um other than that um that is it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Um Dr. Strickland would like to respond. >> Yes. Um, keys to doors is definitely noted. I have an ongoing uh chart that uh every single cabinet member, every single facilities member, technology, I keep up with everything going on. Um, no, that door didn't get fixed because the board meeting was today. Um, it it's just that we only have one locksmith. Um, which is for the entire district. Um, but I do want to make mention that uh and I'm I'm trying to my trying my hardest to correct misinformation that is out there. There are air

079conditioners that are in schools that are closed. However, they have different voltage and cannot simply be moved from one place to the next. But with that being said, we're working diligently to clean up POS and to see where we have money so we can purchase air conditioners for classrooms that don't have them. It's just a matter of, you know, making sure we go through this process. Uh, believe me, um, we don't want people to be burning hot and, you know, passing out of heat stroke. Um, but honestly, we are working diligently to uh, rectify this. is just going to take a a long time. You know what I mean? It's our buildings are extremely old. Um, and you know, we just it's it's it's hard with the upkeep, which is true. And I would like

080to say thank you for all the hard work. Like I said, it's been slow and steady. Um, the walls that are currently being painted after two years of request and other things. I I have seen all of them, but yeah, thank you very much, Dr. Stricklin. [laughter] >> Okay. All right, great. Um, we have a couple of comments. So, I'm gonna trust Oh, no. So, Trusty Middleton, since Yeah, Trusty Middleton first. Okay. I just have two questions. One of my questions is really directed to PPS. Um, is there any way possible that we could get I don't know if it's for you, Sister White, but is there any way possible and I know Dr. Strickland that you usually in your weeklys give up and down in terms of decrease in terms of enrollment. But outside

081of that and maybe making mention of a statements, a few other things, is there any way quarterly or whatever that we can get a report as to what is going on in terms of our district re our children uh maybe some of our staff members if it is counselors, psyches, social workers that's a part of that department. um if there are any new laws or anything that's related to anything that has to do with our children or just us in terms of staff as a district. We used to get it before. we used to get a report and so I was just wondering because I did get a couple of complaints too about um our nonverbal students not really um being serviced as such and I don't know because I try to direct people to

082the right sources especially since too we have an assistant to you now. So, whatever is going on in PPS since we've voted on that. Um, I just think at some time or another, I would anyway like to hear more of a report. I think I might have heard it once when probably in the inception of you arriving. But if we could, it would be great, you know, to just kind of keep updated with what is going on, reference our district, reference our students and our staff, you know, in its entirety to to so we could just have some kind of for me some kind of peace of mind of what is going on cuz sometimes as a board member, I will leave it right there. Okay. So if that could happen like we may get

083other reports that at some point quarterly or whatever we can get a report as to it I think that would be great. That's number one. >> Okay. Dr. Strickland will put that on your agenda to discuss with your cabinet. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> And number two is and I'm just I'm just saying you know God forbid and my prayer is that we do pass this budget. But let's just say and I'm just gonna say for argument sake devil's I'm not really gonna say devil's but but but anyway if not how do we proceed to move forward re our um teachers who have I guess we still moving forward with and civil service staff and just above. How do we proceed to move forward in terms of salaries? And I guess maybe Dr. Lynn or

084>> Dr. Strickland. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I love that question. >> Yeah, >> I absolutely love that question. >> So I it was just a thought of mine. So >> first and foremost, we would actually have to put out to the um to the community another budget to vote on uh with changes. Um it would be It would it would be horrible for this district, for our staff, and most importantly our children. We would have to cut things like athletics. We would have to cut our investments in the arts. And I don't in my budget presentation, I've been very clear. I've been I I I've budgeted already to settle our administrators that work extremely hard as well as the boots on the ground individuals that being in civil service. All of that would

085have to be on pushed off like I can't even get the words out because it's that costly. I know that there's information out there asking for um you know you know no increase and but talking about vocational and career and technical education that costs money. We are continuing to invest in career and technical education significantly and uh we gave the community a presentation a few months ago at a work session regarding what we're investing and I just I pray that they it it doesn't happen to our children. It does not happen to our children. Please I and I would take this time come out to my next budget presentation at Centennial like I give you the N and now I'm giving some other numbers because people say we're not we are not but we're Mount

086Vernon we're not like other people but there are some some things we cannot deny like our social economic status our disadvantaged students that we have serve versus other communities. Uh the number of homeless students we have in our districts that we serve, the amount of special education high need students that we serve looks drastically different than our neighbors than our neighbors. And that's the truth. That's the truth. So, I'm going to bring, like I said, some more facts. And remember, in spite of all of these things, this district continues to thrive as it pertains to the academics. And that's because of the hard work of the teachers. And guess what? If this budget passes, they it helps them for next year. But I can't talk about that because it's >> Yeah. But um yeah, I'm

087going just let it be. Um come up to the next session. and I can't tell people what to do. I know my role and I'm going to leave it at that. I'm about to get passionate. >> And I I I would also like to just say that, you know, we we hear the the the noise about what we need and what we want, but we have to invest in our children and we also need to educate ourselves. Um Dr. Strickland has worked extremely hard in making presentations to the community. If you go if individuals go back to the board meetings, there are presentations. We had a a a a comprehensive presentation on career technical education. I believe it was April 7th with Mr. Simmons and he out he outlined all of the programs in this

088district. He also said that we're moving in a direction where we are actually a actually available now to apply for a Perkins grant in order to make sure that we have programs available for our students. So, we have a lot of people talking rhetoric about what's going on, what's not going on, but we need to educate ourselves with the facts. And the facts of the matter is that we are the poorest community in the wealthiest community in the country. One of the top four wealthiest communities in the country is Westchester County. But Mount Vernon, we are part of that county, but we are one of the poorest. >> So, we have to number one acknowledge that. And we also have to keep we say we want our children to keep up and to be able

089to compete with our neighbors and our children in this community. In order to do that, you we need to put our money where our mouth is. And so I just need to say that we need to just make sure that we are are not following our emotions. We are following the facts. And we also have to acknowledge that we also have charter school students that also there's 814 charter school students that we also have to make sure that our budget um make sure that we have a budget in order to accommodate those students as well. So those numbers may not necessarily even be included in the budget. And so we are and we if we look at the numbers of per pupil per student cost per pupil per student we are actually in the medium

090range for for our communities. And so we need to really take a look at what we are saying and what we are doing and what we can't speak out of both sides of our mouths and talk about how we are supporting our children. We're supporting our staff. We're supporting this and we're supporting that. But we're going to take over here and we want to rob Peter to pay Paul. And I'm just I just need to say this because I am an educator by by by my life has been been given to our children especially in this I retired from Mount Vernon City School District and I just need to say that we know that with the students that we serve we they are the neediest and we need to be able to put our money

091where our mouth is and invest in our children and stop sitting here politicizing education in order to promote our own agendas. >> I want to say amen. There's a there's a foundation here and it is our children and that's what we've gotten away from. I am Mount Vernon. Born, raised, went to school here, grew up here, and I've not had another job but here. And let me tell you, I have seen it all, heard it all. I've not left and come back. I've been here. And so, let me tell you, our children are not even in the pool. Let's be real. I ain't trying to preach, but let's be real, they're not. And we want them to be. And so they they there's a foundation. Yes, CTE is great. That's not the only department, though.

092We got to start from the babies, as y'all want to call them. K through up. I've seen them say, "Leave 48 kids back. They can't no promote them. Can't read and write." So you know if you get seasoned people here and and and they leave because of what they don't get cuz we can't have ch we got we can have children but if we don't have teachers good teachers that's going to do the right thing not lemons and they move out seasoned teach I've seen seasoned hardworking and I'm just going to say it seasoned hardworking teachers administrators leave here and it's not starting with you, Dr. Strickland, cuz all the crap. Yes. And so I hear you, but let me tell you, it's about our kids. And we can say it all day long, but

093it's not when we look at the larger picture. So that's what we want it to be about. We do. We do. Food, clothes. Some of them come home, they don't sleep, they don't eat. Come on. I know. So I'm just saying and and I get it. So we all want to work together. That's why I was asking you um I'm get ready to call you Dr. White again. So, it's a prophetical word, [laughter] but um we just want to work together. And I know what's, you know, it's progress being made. And let me tell you, and I'm I'm getting ready to say I'm getting ready to hang up, but let [laughter] let me just tell y'all, we better be mindful of what's coming down this pike in the next few days that don't want this

094right here, that don't want to see your progress made. Be mindful to this community that's listening when we get ready to vote. >> Okay. I got Trusty Scott and Trusty Peterson. >> I'm done. Thank you though. >> Thank you, Trusty Middleton. >> And um >> we're all passionate. We are. >> Yes, we are. >> You know, I believe that. I'm just saying. >> We are. >> Yes, we are. >> And preaching sometimes is very good for the soul. So, but I one of the things I wanted to acknowledge um last week I attended um my brother's keepers symposium um at the county center where we had many different counties bring their um young people to that to hear and work with each other and talk about the issues. So, I wanted to acknowledge um student

095trustee um Leonard. >> Yes. Yes. I wanted to also acknowledge Dr. Strickland for making sure that Mount Vernon was represented. >> Mount Vernon had about 35 students there who did some great things in terms of communicating with others and that was a blessing to see. I don't know how many of you saw the pictures, but that room was full of many young men in that room talking about their issues, speaking to adults who will now be working with them to move the um the work along. So, I just wanted to acknowledge that um that what you guys did was amazing as well as brother Muhammad who leads that initiative, him bringing them there um and speaking and having this song. And I can't remember the song, um, Leonard, but maybe you might remember the song,

096but >> you want to sing you want to sing a couple of bars for us, [laughter] >> but it was a great thing to have them in that room. So, I just wanted to acknowledge that. So, I appreciate you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Trusty Peterson. >> I was Oh, I'm sorry, Trusty White. Trusty White, do you have something? I will. >> Yes. >> Okay. You You want You're deferring to Trusty White. Okay. >> Oh, my mic off. >> No, we can hear you. We can hear you. >> Oh, you can hear me? >> Yes. >> First of all, I want to agree with Donna, um, Trustee Marabel. Our students are our number one priority right now. But we have some good, excuse me, I was almost going to curse. We have some good teachers

097that are still around that are working hard with our kids. And I mean working hard with but we need some more. We need some resources. We need a lot of social workers. We need kids because kids are coming to us hungry crack crack addicts, mothers and fathers and stuff that we don't need, but they need to be talked to and and made responsible. So they they know how to deal with going home and and dealing with this. We need a lot of resources in our community, but our teachers are, I have to say, there might be some rotten apples, but most of our teachers are doing a fantastic job trying to reach these kids and becoming their mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles. >> Thank you. >> I agree totally. We need what um

098I agree totally with D what Donna had said. Trusty Marabo, I'm sorry. >> Thank all right, Trusty. Why you were my uh teacher back in the day, so you can call me Donna. >> Yeah, [laughter] I've seen the worst and I seen the best. >> Yes. >> Again, we apologize for the sound quality >> years in this district. >> Yeah. Okay. Trusty Peterson, >> I was just really piggybacking off of President Marble, Trustee Middleton, uh, Trusty White. You're absolutely right. We can't sit here and keep on saying we want our our school district to thrive if we're not going to financially invest in our school district. We can't sit here and complain about and say we cannot keep on having 0% tax increases and wi without our school district being able to thrive. In order

099to thrive, I want our school district to be just like Chapa, Scarsdale, White, everywhere. In order for us to get our children on that same playing level, we have to invest in our children. We have to invest in our school district. We can't keep on doing this. This this exactly like I think one of the um speakers said earlier, this didn't happen overnight. This took years. This damage has happened over years. And especially the the the last the 10 years of 0% tax increases >> has cost us huge cost us and for a parent like myself who I send my children to this district I am more than invested in this district and let me tell you something residents of Mount Vernon because I don't want to say taxpayers because when we use the term

100taxpayers it's given this elitist tone as if only homeowners who pay taxes are are are have are invested or have a voice. No. If you rent on South 14th Avenue and First Street, you have a voice. If you own on South 14th and and First Street, you have a voice. And we need to be very careful of the information that's out there. And there's a difference between misinformation and disinformation. A lot of the information out there is disinformation. It is purposely false information to mislead to to to ne to vilify things that have that are just it's it's ridiculous. So please be very cautious. If you need if you to fact check go to the district website it has everything. The draft budget I went looked at today with the you can click here. You

101can see line by line what Mr. Lynn has done that since you've been here. Phenomenal. Phenomenal. Like I can now go through I'm like, "Oh my gosh, out of here. Do there, that account." I love it. So, we have to be very careful. If we want this district to thrive and be just we can be on the same playing field as other districts, we have to invest in it. >> Thank you. With Vice President Mitchell, >> I'm be all over the place. So really quick um um so listen you know where the 10 years of zero tax increase get us right here anyway the teachers not able to get to get what they deserve is part of the is part of it you can't say hey let's not raise taxes but let's increase programs that

102doesn't make sense it doesn't rob Peter to pay Paul let me just let you know Paul and Peter been broke because we have been taking out their pockets for the last 10 years they ain't got nothing left they got rabbit ears pockets. They homeless. There's nothing to rob from them. We now calling Joe. We asking Joe if he got money. We trying to find Susan. Anybody. Okay. So, that whole idea and yet you are dead spot on. This information is real and it's everywhere you look. And people not getting their receipts and listen to what they hear and not having a bit of fact or data. When you sit and you listen to this board, you listen to Trusty Mcdana, you listen to Dr. Strickland, you listen to people on this board. We're talking data

103and facts driven. Come see us. Ask us for it. Not go talk to Miss So and So down at the corner cuz she made cookies and her cookies always been very good. And listen to what she said cuz she just heard from Mr. Reggie and he No, it's not what it's about. The AC's. I'mma flip over to the AC's. We started talking about getting those ACs out of those three buildings last year. I'd like to understand where we are with that as well, Dr. Strickland. Where are those AC's at now? Where did they go? At least that's a micro GAZA thing. If we can get that question. Yeah, that's an issue for me because >> they still at the buildings that that to me that doesn't that's you know so >> Oh, I didn't I

104didn't hear that part. Is that what it was? Okay, fine. Very good. So that's what Yeah, that's what it was. Thank you. Yeah, that's what it was. I was I was doing emergency but you know again you 100% right. And speaking to you mentioned snow day this I would have really just turned back. I didn't say a long back in February, everybody, it was all hands on deck. We talking about making sure that we have the ability to pay people and those folks who are truly valuable. We had workers who were working through the weekend to get the snow and ice cleaned up. Like there were Mandela workers, the ladies over there, Miss Bailey, Miss Horton, Miss Rose, that came out, they worked on through the weekend to help get the the the sidewalks clear

105of ice and snow. We have people who are not getting what they deserve because we can't afford it. and they're still invested. They're still loyal to this school district and the babies in it. And um I call them babies cuz they they they what are they other than that? They babies cuz we the ones that's supposed to be making sure that they're okay because who who's supposed to make sure that if not us, we're here for a reason and that's what it is. You can't expect to get something from nothing. If conet bill goes up, you know, you're going to reach in your pocket and you're going to take a little bit more to pay it. How is a school district supposed to run? but we're not going to have any funding to help it

106to keep to run. You mentioned Tropical White Plains. One thing that those school districts don't have is charter schools. What does that tell you? You heard uh former trustee Capan say it. They smell blood in the water in a district that has poor failing test scores and the uh the the the median in income is low. They sit smell blood in the water and they flock like sharks. Meanwhile, are they offering our students in our district anything better than this school district is as a public school district? Can they prove it? No. But they can run their mouth and that's what you have to you got to stay away from that. Thank you, >> Trusty Mcdana. And I'm going to let you have a final word. >> Thank Thank you. Um I I would It's

107nice to have an opportunity to talk on this. Um um so so I'm happy to have the opportunity. the the period of time where taxes did not increase, that 10-year period where where it was kept at about 0%. That came at a cost and that cost was the dissolving of our fund balance, >> right? That that that was the cost. Um and that that hurt us. Um um and I understand people I think in general are skeptical about municipalities, government. Um, and in Mount Vernon, clearly there's a group of people who are very, very skeptical. And I think, you know, some of that is misdirected animosity. Their animosity is towards other people and they feel disenfranchised. So, they go after whoever they can. And we're convenient right now. Um, that's unfortunate because, you know, the

108school district is really the lifeblood of a community. Uh, it's a tight-knit community. kids will graduate from this school system and stay here. We want them to be uh very well educated, civically minded, ethical, and to do that we have to have to invest in the community. I think this is a responsible budget. 1.99% comes in well below the tax cap. You can examine, as Trusty Peterson said, you can go and look at the budget and you you can examine that. And I would I would certainly challenge people who are skeptical to come with specifics about the budget. show us exactly where you think we are misspending the money and we can have that conversation. Um, I think that's reasonable, but I I I encourage people to think carefully about what they're doing and invest

109in the school system. Thanks. >> Thank you. At this particular point in time, we would um do we have anything for executive session? >> Yes. >> Um, clerk James. >> Yes. I'd like to have a motion, please, to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel and litigation. matters. >> Motion second. >> It's been moved and properly second that we move into executive session. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> We are now in executive session. We will not be returning to this room and we thank you all for your participation this evening.