001[Music] Yes, sir. >> Yes. >> We are now calling to order the business meeting of August 26 of the Mount Vernon City School District. 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 all. >> May we have roll call, please? Trusty Brown, >> present. >> Trusty Kelly, >> here. >> Trusty Mcdana, >> present. >> Trusty Middleton, >> here. >> Trusty Peterson, >> present. Trustee Scott. >> Trusty White >> present. >> VP Mitchell >> present. >> President Marabel >> present. >> Okay, we have a quorum >> in the jewel box. This week we are taking the time to recognize the amazing support staff that are here at our district's offices.
002We are anxiously awaiting the return of our students, families, staff, teachers, and our school leaders. [Music] Thank you. That is a presentation from our school box, from our jewel box. Thank you to Dr. Strickland for highlighting the events of the Mount Vernon City School District. Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to convene into the public comment period of our meeting. Although state law does not require us to hold a public comment period, we have chosen to do so because we believe it is crucial for us to hear from our community members about their concerns and issues. Having said that, please note that the board is here to listen. The public comment period is not designed to be a discussion. Accordingly, please do not expect the board to respond to your concerns and questions tonight, although
003we may. This is because we take your concerns and questions seriously and want to have sufficient time to process and research issues if we need to. We will however respond to your questions and concerns at a future meeting if we are not able to address them this evening or have the proper staff member get back to you at the appropriate time, usually within a 48 hour period. I also want to point out that under state and federal privacy laws, we are unable to entertain any comments or questions about school personnel. Please refrain from using any school personnel's name individually as you comment. Please know, however, that we take personnel concerns very seriously on these matters. We would ask you to go through the appropriate administrative channels. Note, best practices would dictate that if available, the
004district will provide community members with an organization chart, which we are currently working on. So, you will be able to know exactly who you should address your concerns with. Finally, we recognize that right now our nation and our community are polarized on a number of issues. That said, we want our schoolboard meetings to serve as an example to our students that member and members of our school board and members of our community can deal with controversial issues in a civil manner and demonstrate mutual respect for one another. In that spirit, we will insist that all speakers and members of the audience maintain civility and respect for any divergent views that others possess. We ask that speakers please address their comments to the board directly rather than the audience. Speakers may address items that are pertinent
005to this evening's agenda. In the unlikely event the meeting becomes unruly, the board will recess the meeting and return once order has been restored. Finally, I want to remind everyone that you may submit written comments to the board in lie of speaking during the public comment period if you so choose. We do have an email address and it will be available to you at the end of our meeting and during the session we will have our technician um print that provide that for you is BOE trustees at mount mtveroncsd.org. or the board will now entertain public comment for three minutes. Each individual speaker is allotted three minutes. The individual time limits will be enforced so that as many members of the public who wish to speak may be allowed to do so. The first speaker
006on the agenda, Sierra, noette. Noise. >> Hello. Good evening, everybody. >> Hello. >> Um, my name is Sierra and I'm here um on behalf of my grandfather because uh I would say a couple of weeks ago I had came here to pay off his school taxes on his house that he owns and we were just notified that it has went up again. And I think it was 3.3% if I'm not mistaken. If I'm wrong, if I hope I'm not wrong, but um I just have a couple of comments. Not only that, questions about that. Um we were also notified, too. We also do know that a couple of schools have closed in Mount Vernon, so I'm not understanding why the taxes have went up. Along with that, my grandfather's on a fixed income. Um, I
007think Mount Vernon taxes have went up at a great average within like the past five years or so. So, I feel like my question here is why do they keep going up with schools closing? Um, and as far as like if you guys need community help with the schools, why is that not being said towards I guess the Mount Vernon community instead of us finding out that you know taxes are being raised? So, that's just all I had to say. Okay. Thank you for your comments. I would like to notify you that we are obligated to hold public hearings 14 days be for seven to 14 days before the vote. The community votes on the budget for the school district. So those um we did have several sessions throughout the community that all our community
008members were invited to. So we did try to inform the community in each and every way and venue possible. So I do apologize if that um was missed um by your family. Uh so we do understand that you know taxes are you know and can be you know challenging for individuals but let me just say this to you that in order to keep up with what is going on. We have uh salaries that go up every year. We have health benefits that go up every year and um you can go to the website and look at what those presentations were. Okay. Thank you, >> Cynthia Crrenshaw. >> Um, Cynthia Crrenshaw, before the clock starts, weren't you supposed to give us a data sheet on what you guys going to be talking about tonight? >> An
009agenda or something? No, >> there is a there are board docs on board docs. I believe there are some printed agendas that are available for you and there's also a QR code that's available before you enter the room. You can use your phone and and access it that way as well. >> Okay. Okay. Um want to talk about where's the clock? Second time talk about the picture. Um I know that you are working on that but I hope that will not take forever. I know how you do. Stuff will be put in the basement collect dust and it will not be presented to the public. As you can see what's happening in Washington. They're taking away a lot of our black interest. They want to get rid of slavery. So, we need to keep our
010history upfront. So, please come with the ETA as far as that picture. What's the status with the bail? The bell, they almost took that out of the building. It was in the basement for years until I went to the building and walked around and looked in the um basement and all of a sudden the bell was close to the door by exit A. So the bail should not be a problem with coming to the library where we have four security guards if you waiting for the picture to get the status on the picture. Um I've been getting hearing rumors of course rumors again that um Parker that they was going to try to buy the school um Ammani. So could you please clarify whether that is true or not? But that was the rumor before
011they even took over before the school even um closed. Now this is a public building right? I assume it's a public building. So, why is downstairs closed at 11:30? Like I've said several times, this is not a handicap free building. I came here today with the lady that was 9 months pregnant and they told her to walk around the back to come in. It's not right. If our taxes is up, why is that door downstairs closed every day at 11:30? You have parents that takes comes over here on their lunch hour and that door is closed. It should not be closed. It should be just like city hall. It should be just like the library. It should be open when this building is in session. Plus, our taxes went up. And this is something that
012I just want to throw out there. Um PTA at Parker bought all this lovely furniture. What is the status of our furniture? They said it could not go to Rebecc Rebecca Turner, but we spent a lot of money on 18 chairs, three nice tables, and a refrigerator. So, what's the what's the status of that? That's I know that's on the end of the bit the um the totem pole, but I just want to know. Thank you. Picture bell um alumni and 11:30 that door should not be locked. Thank you. I'm good tonight, right? I'm less than 10 minutes. Thank you, Miss Thank you, Miss Craw. You're pretty pretty quick tonight. Um, thank you. We are uh working on those items that you did address. Uh, Dr. Strickland would like to address the closure of the
013bill um the 11:30 closure. >> Yes. Thank you, Miss Krenshaw, for your comments. Uh just to let you know. So unfortunately the past practice has been that downstairs has had to close because the upstairs uh security guard needed to take a lunch and then the individual that's downstairs would come upstairs to monitor that area where people are actually taking or they're filing their taxes. Uh a lot of times these individuals have cash, they have checks, credit cards, and we just want to ensure their safety. I am excited to announce that at the beginning of uh the school year, there will be another individual that will work the late shift and that individual will be available to relieve both of the security guards so that we can ensure that families that need to come in for
014registration or come in to speak to human resources or payroll are available. as well as protecting our assets up here in the building to ensure that people can be safe while they deposit their funds. As um far as the furniture in the uh Parker School, I will get back to you on that. I am not sure. I do know that much of the furniture at the Parker School has actually gone to the Rebecca Turner Academy. Um that was the first that I've heard of that. But nonetheless uh I will be sure to get an update and provide uh that to you personally in the next few days and then the public uh next month. >> You're welcome. >> Our next speaker is Sylvia Sylvia Tyrie. Good evening. Can you hear me? I don't like this
015thing. First, I want to congratulate the new trustees on being elected to their position. And welcome to you, Superintendent Strickland. This is my first time speaking since you all were here and since you've come in. Okay. First, for once, I am here not to complain about anything. I mean, this is not going to be an always ways thing cuz when stuff don't go right, I'm going to be here complaining. A lot of y'all already know how I am. Okay. But first, I want to thank this. Thank y'all for the way y'all have treated the community since you've been here, since you've been in session, the respect that you've shown to the residents. And I really appreciate that. Dr. Strickland, I'm I'm very appreciative of what you're bringing to the board, and I thank you for
016that. And I do thank you for involving the community in your plans for this district. It's really it's time. I'm so happy that you brought this back because I haven't seen this since Dr. Patella that we had the opportunity to know what y'all going to be talking about and you know how long ago Dr. Patella's been gone from here. Okay. So I thank you. Thank you for that. Also, Trusty Peterson, please don't let the disgruntled ex board members that was here discourage you. Don't let the garbage they've been saying and talking about you make you want to resign. This community elected you and this community is going to be behind you. It is such a pleasure to come in here and not hear the people who's sitting up here downplaying and talking down to the
017residents. And once again, I'm good tonight, but you know, when stuff stir up, I come and I take no prisoners. Thank you so much. Thank you, Miss Tyrie, for not taking any prisoners tonight. >> And that ends our public comment for this evening. >> Okay. Thank you. We will now have our superintendence report. Yes. Good evening, President Marabel, Vice President Mitchell, trustees, students, staff, and to the city of Mount Vernon. Here's my report for the month of August. You could you could just advance the slide. Yeah, >> thank you. I am so pleased that our students had the opportunity to go on this amazing trip which expanded their horizons, helped them forge new relationships, and taught them so much about the interesting culture of Costa Rica. They also had the opportunity to go on guided
018tours, enjoy kayaking, visit a volcano, and explore nature. Thank you, Miss Nunees, and everyone who made this trip for our Mount Vernon students possible. Next slide. Henry Buddy White Allen has once again promoted learning, health, and togetherness in our community through his Buddy White project, which helped our babies prepare for the new school year and help and the with the help of Cletus Tuku, a colorful basketball character who helped who helped hand out the goods while entertaining the kids. The event included fun and games as well as health checkups and dental screenings. A big thank you to Mr. Allen for all he has done for the district over the past few years. Dr. Kimberly Young Wilkins, the state monitor, held the third and final public hearing about her role in making sure the school budget
019school budget is balanced and consistent with the district's long-term financial plan. She and I answered many questions from the community about a variety of matters that I am well-versed in, having functioned under a similar situation in the Rochester City School District, where the school district there greatly improved its fiscal situation. Thank you, Dr. Wilkins, and our community for helping me successfully guide our district forward. This summer, we passed a personal device policy to align with New York State's mandate. While we use technology in the classroom, we want to avoid the distractions that personal cell phones can bring to a school setting. So families, as of September 3rd, 2025, there will be no devices allowed to be used from the beginning of school until the end of school. Next slide. We had a very productive board
020of education and superintendent retreat and had a great chance to reconnect and discuss ways to provide our students with the best possible experience during the school year. We were joined by Mark Snyder from the New York State School Boards Association who provided tips on how the trustees can best carry out their mandate while also encouraging them to stay grounded in their goals. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Snyder of our school board members and our school board members on a successful retreat. In the most recent editions of the Mount Vernon's jewelbox, I focused on all of the wonderful support staff who provide the vital services that keep the operation humming in the district's offices. the buildings and grounds crew who have been working hard to prepare the facilities for our students return and the
021importance of using the online registration system as the first step in unlocking your child's educational journey. Our district is focused on creating a welcoming and engaging environment for students as they return to the classroom on September 3rd. Our website has been updated with all the information needed for the first day of school. When using online registration, families can register at their convenience and submit their information immediately. The process is easy and secure. The new school year is right around the corner and we once again want to stress that registration is all carried out online. A handy how-to video also is available on our website and it's updated to help families navigate the process which is easy and secure. Please keep in mind that our online registration does not work from a mobile phone. We are
022looking forward to great academic great academic year filled with many successes for our prized youngsters. And just another note, our parent center has been moved to the Graham school uh as that school has have has the space to accommodate our families and our parent liaison are able to be there to support our families on computers and get this uh registration process successfully completed. And now for our updates on polishing the jewel. It's not called reconfiguration. We are almost ready to welcome back our students. So, I want to provide some updates on our ongoing campaign polishing the jewel. Our staff and administration have worked so hard this summer to get our schools ready. So, let's take a look at some of the progress we've made. I am happy to report that all 16 schools, a garage,
023and five storage containers have all passed their fire inspections. Almost two dozen pieces of working kitchen equipment have been moved from schools that have closed and were installed in existing ones, which will improve the capacity and efficiency of food services across the district. The changes will be implemented in phases in our commitment to minimize disruptions, maximize stability, and reduce the needs for students to move from building to building as they advance in grade levels. We also will focus on training and supporting the staff in effective co-eing models to address the needs of diverse learners. We are excited to welcome back our teachers and staff for our in-person convocation at Mount Vernon High School. I am looking forward to getting together with everyone in preparation for a school year filled with teaching, learning, and student achievement.
024Thank you to Principal Baruti Cafe for joining us in helping us get ready to start the year. He is a welle accomplished principal from New Jersey who has led the transformation of four different urban schools. He will provide a great insight to us all as we prepare to welcome back students on September 3rd. And with that being said, uh that concludes my report for August. Questions? >> Are there any questions? >> Hearing none. Thank you, Dr. Strickland. Amen. >> Thank you. >> We're going to move on to our treasures report. Um a presentation by Amy Skiff >> and she will be on Zoom. >> Can I just do a brief >> um Dr. Strickland, would you please introduce our treasurer? >> Yes. So um our uh I would say uh acting auditor, she actually comes
025in and helps us with the accounting actually um in our books. Um each month, uh trustees, you should be should have been getting a presentation on the district's financials for the previous month. Um I'm happy to report that I've created the cadence for this to happen. Uh unfortunately, our district treasurer, she needed to be out of town. Still is the summertime, uh but is returning back this week. However, the person that she works with very closely to keep our books in line is here to present the report uh to you all. and going forward you will have uh an unudited report presented to you each month. Thank you uh Miss Amy. >> Thank you. Thank you very much for letting me present this remotely. I do appreciate it. I'm going to share my screen and
026start with the actual treasurer's report and kind of guide you through um what you have been receiving this but you may not fully understand it. So I'd like to go step by step and explain first of all the format of it. I have been working with your district for many years now kind of in the um in the background uh making sure your accounting is been up to date with some of the transitions you've had with staff and training different people that have come into the treasurer role. So over the course of time, we've developed this spreadsheet treasurer's report that really is here for you to understand the flow of of money and it satisfies the commissioner's regulations as to what you as a board should be seeing every month. um to look at a
027snapshot of what monies have come in. Um we start with the balance at the be at the end of the prior month. We need to present to you the cash receipts that have come in by fund and by source so you know what monies are coming into the district. This is actually all of the deposits in this is the month of June. Um, and then we'd like to show you the dispersements. You should be seeing your warrants on a regular basis, which are all of the bills that you pay monthly. We break it out here to give you the the picture of the types of payments that you're making, whether you're paying bills, you have payroll expenses, you have debt service payments, and there's some transferring in between funds that occur. The bottom line is
028to reconcile with the bank statement and that is the beall end all of closing up your month if your bank reconciliation >> Amy can you hear me? Yes, we are trying to actually access this document. It is actually located on the resolution 10.21 as a reference. If you uh are following us on board docs, you can tap on 1021, resolution 1021 and the treasures report. It is actually part of another resolution. Um we do apologize that it was not a part of this resolution. So um in the future we will make sure that all presentations are attached as they are being presented. So if you need to follow we want we want you to follow along go to 10.21 21 resolution and the document is there. You may have to turn it around at the
029top. If you look at the menu bar across the top, um there is a a line. It's like almost like a half a circle. If you click on it, it will reconfigure it so that it will turn around so that you can view it properly. >> Thank you, President. >> Okay. Okay. Uh you as a large district have all of the funds that are standard within school districts, but we kind of expanded this. We you the commissioners reg state that you should see by fund. We've expanded it to show some other really pertinent information. your payroll deduction account, which is where all of your withholdings come in and get paid out after people are paid and their taxes are withheld. We want to show the flows of that because it is tied to a bank
030statement which we reconcile. And then your net payroll account is where actually all of the paychecks are um written from and dispersed. So we add that in as its own column even though it's not a separate fund. Your major funds are your general fund, your school lunch fund, your special aid fund, which is solely your grants, federal grants, state grants, capital fund, and the miscellaneous special revenue. Those are the actual funds. And there are bank statements tied to each one of these funds. So, this if you follow through every month, you're going to see what came in through cash receipts by fund, what was dispersed, and then how it reconciles with the bank. The section over here labeled the multi-fund dispersement account. Being a large district, it makes it much easier to have one bank
031account that pays all of your bills monthly rather than have a checking account. Rather than having a separate checking account for each one of those, you have what is considered a multifund dispersement account. So, we show it separately because it has its own bank statement yet it's made up of multiple funds. So, here we basically show the money coming in, which is a transfer from other accounts. The money comes into the dispersement account when we have to pay bills. And this line right here shows all of the bill payments by fund and summarizes it at the bottom of each fund's ending value um for the month and totals it up here. So the at the end of the month there was a million43,000 in the dispersement account and that too gets reconciled to the bank
032statement. Um and it's critical that you know we reconcile every month and we investigate anything that we're not sure of. There's there's a lot of activity as I said being a large district. Um, >> so this does satisfy that requirement, but um, we do understand there probably could be questions uh, from the board. If you haven't really had an opportunity to study it or or maybe there's some questions that I can answer tonight, if not at any other time, be glad to answer questions on how this is presented in in the different categories. I know this was a lot. Uh, do we have any questions right now? We do know that we can have follow-up questions afterwards. Um, any questions right now? We have asked um I have asked our district clerk to ensure that
033we actually have a hard copy of this document moving forward so that we can actually see it in its uh I see trustee Scott. You have a question. >> Yeah, I do. One question is um for our followup, who do we >> I guess we send it to you and then you'll send it to the superintendent. He'll send it to Amy or whoever. Got you. Okay. >> Yes. And Dr. Strickland has a comment. Trustees, I just I want to thank you for your grace. Um, again, I know this has not been done. I've been looking on board docs and haven't been seeing it presented to you formally. Uh, unfortunately it is in the wrong spot, but I will work with the district clerk to make sure we actually place this in the right area as
034well as put the correct motion that we will need to actually move the move the unodudited report as we move forward. Vice President Mitchell, >> is this something that we're going to put on a district site at all to share with the public so they can see it? >> It's on board docs. So, it's available. >> It's available on board docs. So, that would mean that the public would have to know how to get to and navigate to through board docs to get to it. Currently that's currently that's the way that is presented but we can we can discuss that. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> Do we have any other questions? Uh Trusty Mcdana. >> Thank you. Um thanks for the presentation. Just a question to make sure I'm I'm understanding this with the
035um cash in and cash out for the general fund. So is it fair to say that the beginning balance for July is going to be the cash balance at the end of the month per books? So it'll be 11,793. Um is that is that correct? That'll that'll then move to the top of the general fund available cash balance >> for next month. Okay. So So if that's true, um are there any points at which we're concerned about the available cash balance at the beginning of the month? Just I'm just looking at that. That seems like a large drop um from the available cash balance at the beginning of at the at the end of June. Um or I should say at the beginning of June. So are are there red flags uh that go up
036for you when there are large fluctuations like that or no? >> Well, in conjunction with this, we work on a cash flow projection, so we monitor it. Now, the good news is in July, you are um taking in your first tax payments. July is a very big month of receipts incoming. So, there's no concern about your beginning balance as comparative here. Yes, you had 49,000 and you ended with 11. But in July, you will you'll get a large influx of taxes. The time where it can get a little tricky is when you're waiting on state aid payments, when tax collection kind of slows down. Um the really the beginning of tax or state aid payments starts in December. Um, so you know there's there's times where you really have to monitor um your investments if
037you need to pull anything out of what we have on this uh treasures report. You have money invested in NICLASS which is a a municipal um investment pool and we you know keep money in there to earn interest but then we pull it out when we need it. Um, and you did actually last year have to go out for a uh tax anticipation note to to kind of help you get through. Um, but now I foresee your cash flow situation to to be turning um with some of the savings from closing your buildings and tightening up things. >> Thank you. So I do have any other questions from any members? Okay, I do have one question. One would be uh so when we receive these statements, they will be a month behind pretty much. >>
038Yes. Generally, and depending on the timing, you know, of getting everything in, getting the bank statements and the timing of the meetings, there's some times it could be that you're two months behind, but that'll be rare. Um, I do believe that your treasurer palm has July completed, but I wanted to do June because it's the end of the year and we're in the midst of audit. Um, so it's kind of good to get your year-end snapshot and next month you'll probably see July and maybe August as well at the same time. >> Thank you. No other questions? Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Currently, Dr. Strickland. Okay. 4.1 followup on old business. Does anyone have any old business to bring to the table? I would like to say that I I believe that
039since we are responding to a constituents concerns immediately at the meeting in real time and if there um if we're not able to that we're following up in a timely fashion that we are going to be removing this follow-up on old old business from the agenda. And what I would like to do is to give board members an opportunity to share. Um so we would like if you if you'd like to do that, we could um change this item on the agenda to board comments. And that way if you visit schools, if you have something you'd like to share that this would be an opportunity for you to be able to do that if that's something that you're interested in, we can take a a consensus. Um so I would like to have a consensus
040on that. Do we have any objections? Okay. Thank you. And that's what we'll do. And Dr. Strickland has a comment. >> So, I just had one old business uh comment to sort of wrap up. Um you have heard uh one of our employees uh come up to the podium a few times uh talking about the units on top of Mandela. I just wanted to clarify for the listening public that those are in fact not air conditioners. They are actually air ventilators. They pu pull in good air and push out bad air and hot air. Uh so they are functioning. Uh we are working to make sure those get serviced. They're cleaned uh regularly. Uh but I just wanted to clarify that we are not uh wasting um funds or not using items that are on
041a roof. Uh they are actually functioning and supporting the school at the Nelson Mandela campus. Thank you. >> Thank you Dr. Strickland for clarifying that. Do we have any questions for VP Mitchell? >> Um, so a couple of things. First, suffice fire inspections. That's something that we've talked about in the past in our district. We've had challenges in the past getting our certificates of occupancy in a timely fashion. I think we reported at the last meeting that um we were in a good place. We talked about it recently, but we're in a great place because we've got uh everything has passed, all our buildings, including the garage over at the high school, which has always been a unique thing. Um, but on top of that, additionally, um, Trusty Brown and I went over to uh
042the high school to visit the food services operation just to take a look and see what the kids are getting fed. uh not because during the summer time the food district the school the food district excuse me the school district also supplies u meals to uh certain city-based operations the do center and things like that so we wanted to go over and tour if you don't know we do have a new food service company now Sedexo um and we really would like them to you know they need to come stand and deliver and they need to know we want to know what's going on so um I I'll let Trusty Brown also speak if she wants to cuz we also took a run over to Pennington to see how things were going over there. But
043there was trips going on. Uh the students weren't even in the building. We we just came to visit, you know, but um what we saw at the high school was pretty impressive. >> Take Trusty Brown. >> Sorry. Good evening everyone. Um yeah, so um myself and Trusty Mitchell went over um and saw the Sedexo operation and it was a pleasant surprise. Um they had a really tight ship. We got to meet some of their managers that will be working directly with the district. Um so we're confident that we're going to move in a a positive direction. Um they are continuous continuing to communicate with us, let us know. We um remind them that we are not trying to micromanage but we just want to work and we want um our faculty, staff and community to
044know that we are invested and they are invested. Um we've asked them to give us some um literature so that um there are things that they're presenting to the students that is different than what's on your shelf. So while they may be servicing food that you see at home, there is different caloric uh counts and sugar and all of that is uh drastically different. So we definitely ask for that. I think that would be a positive for the community and staff to see the differences between what's on the shelf and what's what they're serving. And this is per the uh guidelines that um the district gets um reimbursed. Um and so we did take a tour of a bunch of schools and um we're excited and um they have some uh trainings that they are
045committed to doing to all of the staff. And so we just want the community to know that we are holding the foot to the fire and um in this uh early stages we are getting um what we requested and what they proposed in their proposal which helped them win this bid. So thank you. >> Thank you. and the next business meeting that will be held on September 30th, we will have regular committee reports. So, um, we will be presenting then. Do we have any board members that would like to comment at this time? I would like to give you an opportunity to do that. If there's anything that you've been doing or seeing that you'd like to share and if not, we can wait till next meeting. But if you have anything, I'd like to
046hear from you. Trustee Scott. >> Thank you, President. Well, I definitely wanted to acknowledge um an event I attended tonight at the high school where they had the orientation for the ninth graders. Um I was very pleased to see how full the cafeteria was with both um incoming ninth graders as well as their parents. Um, it was well, it was done perfectly by the staff at Mount Vernon High School in terms of the flow of things, in terms of getting them in, getting them with necessary literature for them to um, be prepared to start their freshman year. Um, so that was a great thing to come in and see. And you know, I'm not sure if it's being done by other schools, but is definitely something that should be um patterned going forward because I
047think that's a great start to break down some of that ice for a nervousness that students may have when they coming into a new school system. Um especially, you know, high school. High school was totally different from middle school. So, I was um pleased and I just wanted to um acknowledge that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other any other trustees like to share? Uh trustee Peterson. >> Uh last week I had the opportunity to uh participate with NISBA's advocacy training. It was a Zoom training and they were very excited to see someone from Mount Vernon um on the call and participate and it was they have a full agenda of what you know what they plan on doing throughout the school year and I look forward to representing um and bringing Mount Vernon our
048voice to Albany. And it was nice seeing uh you know other new trustees and seasoned trustees to just talk about advocacy for our schools. And although our district, we were the only title one district there. Um hopefully uh I have reached out to some uh of my uh my NISSBA mentor uh who they're from a title one district also to try and get them on board also. So it'd be good to have a more diverse group of districts on the on the for the training. But I did participate with that. And I my next one will be September 11th for the advocacy with NISB.A. So I look forward to that. So, I would like to thank you for volunteering to be our representative for our advocacy program. So, thank you so much, Trusty Peterson. Any
049other comments? Okay, hearing none, then we will move forward with our consent agenda 5.1, approval of consent agenda items 6.1 through 9.4. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Any questions? >> Questions, concerns? All in favor? >> Any oppose? >> Abstain. >> Motion carries. >> Going to go down to >> You ready? >> Can I have a motion, please? >> We're going to move to resolutions submitted after our work session. Um, as you know, we are moving in a different direction. We have a work session at the beginning of the month and we have a business meeting to vote at the end of the month. So these items, the items that we just voted on, we already discussed them. We have not discussed these items. So they may take a little longer just so
050that you're aware. So we will go through each one of these items one by one. 10.1 Authorize an agreement between the Mount Vernon City School District and Jessica Graves as associate superintendent for human resources. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Okay. >> Any questions? >> Question. Trustee Middleton. >> Um I looked at the contract. Is there a resume that accompanies that or was it already folded at some point or what? >> Dr. Strickland. Um >> apologies that is a new cadence that you are checking us on. Uh we will make sure that even the current employees of the district um do have uh resumes that are uploaded. Um I'm glad uh we're talking about the human resources person but uh yes we will definitely make sure that we follow that expectation. Okay. >>
051Any other questions? Hear none. I'll take a vote. >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> Thank you. Congratulations to Jessica Gray. She is here tonight and we would just like if you would have a few words if you'd like to share with us, we would welcome that. >> Good evening. Um, I'm really humbled, very grateful for this opportunity. Um, I know there's a lot to be done, a lot of moving parts from this previous year, but I really look forward to working hard and what we can accomplish together. Thank you. We look forward to that. >> We do. Okay. >> I was going to say is now your opportunity to join us at the cabinet table. And just in full disclosure, during the consent agenda, we also adopted um we also
052brought on she is no stranger to our district. She is no stranger to our community. And so we would like for Donna Jackson, who is our food service manager, to come forward and address our public as well. [Applause] Good evening everybody. Good evening. Uh it's this is a homecoming. Um and I'm excited to be here and I'm excited to hear that you all are interested in finding out about the healthy snacks and I'm excited about trying to get some grants in here so that we can get some of the old equipment, you know, renewed and restored. And yes, we will hold Sedexo accountable in a very nice way. I'll smile when I do it. Um, but I appreciate you all and I thank you for this opportunity. Thank you. And I just love your first
053name. I just need to say that. [Laughter] Okay, moving forward. 10.2 human resources number 131A certified probationary administrative appointment. May I have a motion? >> Questions? Question. >> Trusty Middleton. Am I looking at the right thing? This is with the AP, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I'm I'm just curious. So, Mr. Grant is what? Where? Because M is it Mr. or Mrs. Leor? >> Yeah, we sent um there were questions that we cuz I I missed it though. So, I'm >> Okay. So, we sent we sent an email. So, >> um I will let Dr. Strickland um respond to you. >> So, so thank you trustees. Uh just one thing I want you to all know that I'm currently working on and it's going to be a large feat and I actually have my
054first meeting tomorrow which is position control. Um I did actually go in the budget to ensure that this budget this was actually allocated in the budget. Uh currently we have said individual um who you have mentioned um working with the Right Track Academy which was formerly the Sundown or Rebecca Turner Academy that has moved to the Mount Vernon High School. There will be one sole administrator responsible in that program. And um with that being said, there was a position that that person moved into uh and that freed up one uh slot. At first it was mentioned that it was a new position. It was actually not a new position. It appeared new, but we have since clarified that. So I just wanted uh to be aware and and transparent that there is no new position
055being added to the budget. And this actually gives Mount Vernon High School the support that they need to run um well for their large ninth grade class uh to have an actual functioning 9th grade academy to get our some of our most vulnerable students uh across the finish line. >> Okay, any other questions? Um I do have one question and it it says the Sundown alternative program. Are we changing the name on that? Can we correct the >> Yes. So, it's Right Track Academy um which Dr. Pierce actually put forth and I looked at the letter. Uh I don't know where this sundown business came from, but uh I believe that it's actually indicated in our system. So, that is something that will have to be updated uh hopefully for the next budget season. >>
056Okay. If we can just correct the uh agenda item that says sundown. I I think we can. I just have to make sure it's not in the budget as listed at that. So, we're in accordance with the the actual. >> Understood. Thank you. Okay. >> But I will check. >> Any other questions? We have a vote. All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Okay. Motion carries. >> 10.3 Human Resources number 131A probationary teaching appointments. May I have a motion? Motion >> second. >> Questions. May we have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> 10.4 human resources number 131A certified acceptance of resignations. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Questions. >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> 10.5 human resources number 131 certified recision
057a probationary appointment. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Questions. May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> 10.6 human resources 131A certified interim administrative appointment. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Question. May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. >> Abstain. >> Motion carries. >> 10.7 human resources number 131A certified tenure appointments. May I have a motion? >> Motion. Second. >> Question. May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> 10.8 human resources number 131A certified leave replacement appointments. May I have a motion? >> Second, >> questions. May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. 10.9 human resources number 131A certified
058as it read amended resolution dated 729 2025 may I have a motion >> motion >> question may I have a vote >> all in favor >> I any oppose abstain motion carries >> 1010 human resources number 132B classified approval of perdm substitutes may I have a motion Motion >> questions. May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Abstain. >> Motion carries. >> 10.11. Human resources number 132B classified approval of permanent appointment. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Questions. >> May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> 10.12 Human Resources number 132B classified as it read. Amended resolution dated 729 2025. May I have a motion? >> Motion second. >> Questions. May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >>
059Oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. 10.13 human resources number 132B classified approval of daily rates of pay for certified and uncertified substitute teachers certified and uncertified teaching assistants per DM security monitors per DM typus and per DM lunch monitors. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Um second. >> Oh, Trusty Brown second. Wait, who was first? >> Okay. questions. >> Question. >> Trusty Scott, >> I just wanted to know the difference between see here you have substitute teacher certified and you have the certain number of days and then you have sub substitute teacher beginning on day 41 but it's the same. So why are they separate? >> Trust um Dr. Strickland. So, I actually don't know that. And uh usually uh I would, but sometimes it's contractual, but um Miss Graves, uh can you uh come
060to my rescue? >> Yes. Sorry. That should have been >> I apologize. >> No problem. Um that should have just been condensed. Um in the past, there was a difference between um substitute teachers who went past the 40 days. There was a limit in previously. So that really should have just been one line since it's just one rate going forward. >> Thank you. >> Question. >> Uh Trusty Mcdana, >> just a question on the PEDDM the the nurse uh hourly rate. Is that is that a competitive rate? It just strikes me as not competitive. And I I mean are we struggling to get nurses to >> We we are um to be honest we are definitely going to be working with um CSA to look at rates so we can keep registered nurses in the
061district long term and also to cover for vacancies when there are a need for prediums. >> Thank you. >> Uh Vice President Mitchell. >> So so we're speaking on nurses. We've talked about this. I've mentioned it over the years and how it impacts fall sports. So, the school district has many different sports, but the the struggle to find nurses and to be competitive in pay impacts our ability to have enough nurses who can get the students cleared so that they can participate in the sports. So, this is a sensitive topic that we I'm glad, Miss Graves, that you're leading that charge to find out with the CACA how we can become more competitive. I've heard this conversation. We have a handful of nurses in the district, one of which uh who is the main over
062at the high school who is inundated for many years now needing lots of help. So, thank I'm glad to hear that we're trying to do something. >> Okay, we have a question. We still any other trusty Scott? >> Yeah, I just for my clarity sake in regards to the substitute teacher assistant. When it says not permitted, what does that mean? >> It says what? Can you repeat that please? >> It says not permitted >> after day. Yeah. Beginning on day 41, it says not permitted. Can you just share with me what that means? So in I believe in most districts uh I will say that in order to um to prevent number of days >> certain going over a certain amount of days you would have to actually hire that individual into the district versus
063you know um having them serve in a long-term capacity because it looks like the district is trying to save money. So that's an actual good mechanism to bring that individual on or create some type of action. so that we have a permanent person in the space. >> Understood. I I thought it meant something like that based on other areas the way I operate. So, >> it's just a protective position. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions? Good questions. >> Okay. All in favor? >> Take a vote. >> I >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. 10.14 human resources number 132 classified recall of five cleaners from the preferred eligibility list cleaners dated June 30, 2025. May I have a motion? >> Motion second. >> Got that questions? May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >>
064Oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. 10.15 Human Resources request for a leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act, FMLA. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Questions? >> May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. 10.16 Authorization to enter into an agreement with Friendship for Tots to provide preK3 and preK4 programs for the 2025 2026 school year. May I have a motion? >> Second, >> questions. >> May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. 10.17 Authorization to enter into an agreement with Our Lady of Victory to provide preK4 preK programs for the 2025 2026 school year. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Questions? May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any any opposed?
065Abstain. Motion carries. 10.18 Authorization to disperse stipens for providing program services for the operating of the purchase college great potential program at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts, Mount Vernon High School, Mount Vernon Steam Academy, and Lincoln School for 2025, excuse me, 2025 2026 school year. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Okay. questions. I apologize, >> questions, concerns, any discussions? >> Okay. All in favor? >> Dr. >> Oh, >> so there is an individual that actually resigned on this document. However, uh because there's a certain amount allocated, we're going to need to keep that individual on there. that person won't be paid but we know that there's an allocation for uh someone and then we can place another individual to work the program and it can continue to be done seamlessly. So
066the biggest thing is that the money is in is approved and then we can get another individual to actually um fill that position. >> So question we >> trustee Kelly >> we'll give you a pass. Will we vote on that person when that person is is put in? Will there be a resolution or you just slide that person into that position? >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> We've approved the money for this position. When you have >> right with a name >> with a name. So when you substitute out that name, will we will it be be brought back before the board to vote on is my question. So, one of the things I will have to do, and I pledge to do this, is to look at the board policy as it currently stands
067to determine if that has to be brought back. In two previous districts that I was in, if the money was there and the individual wasn't working, all it took was an internal process, a board resolution change form in which it just swapped out individuals uh so that we can continue to keep the business of the district going. So, I will I will review that and let you know. >> You're welcome. >> All in favor? >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> One I just have one question >> because I'm all about signatures and stuff. So, have these individuals signed anything to receive these stipens? >> So, in all school district matters, you don't get stipens until you work the programs, the events, or what have you. like regardless. So again, that individual that's on there will not
068receive any funds period because they're not working the program. There are time sheets, there are checks and balances that we have in place so you don't have to worry about uh payment going out to someone that did not work. >> Gotcha. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> And thank you for letting me catch my breath. 10.19 authorization to hire for the K8 Literacy Planning Committee during the 2025 2026 school year addendum. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Questions. May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. >> 10.20 20 authorization to hire staff for districtwide regent testing and scoring from August 9 through 22, 2025. >> August 19th through the 22nd, 2025. May
069I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second, >> questions. Trustees Brown. There's just two things that I noticed and I I bought it attention before that we are approving something that has dates that's uh way in advance of right now. Yes. >> And also why are there no hours and rates and any pay disparities on this on this line? >> So I'm going to ask uh Dr. Dar to speak to that. Thank you. >> Yes. So previously you um approved teachers to do proctoring and grading and one of those teachers was was unable to grade on one of those days. So by state law, you have to have three math teachers, excuse me, to to score. So at that time, there's going to be no money exchanged as far as the same rate because that
070person is going to work a day that that person didn't work before. So Brian Brown will be substituting for the person who couldn't work. So there's going to be no cost to the district. >> So So he's already done that cuz this was August 19th through the 22nd. >> Yes. This occurred after the resolution passed. So, we'll make sure going forward that we're going to be approving these things where the dates are not after because >> correct. Well, the previous one was the person was inadvertently left off the previous resolution. This one was not because everything was ahead of time, but after the board approved the resolution, we realized this person couldn't work, but we had to put somebody else in place. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Just uh one thing, can we indicate
071the person that wasn't who they were substituting for on the resolution? That might be helpful. >> I can get that. >> Uh Dr. Strickland has a comment. >> Yep. Uh again, just as I stated before, in two previous districts, all it required was a board resolution form so that we don't look like we're not doing what we're supposed to do because life happens. Um, and we don't want to stop the business of the district because of our meeting cadence. So, uh, long story short, we will make, uh, make it known since this resolution is here who is the individual that we're going to swap and I will bring back the other one if there's said policy to do so. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I do believe we have a policy where we
072have to um, indicate individuals, but you will get back to us and let us know. But I do believe we have a policy for that. Uh 10.21. >> I'm sorry. >> All in favor? >> Sorry. Question. >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> Thank you. 10.21. Approval of the treasures report for June 2025. May I have a motion? >> Questions? >> Dr. Strickland? So, as we move forward, this will actually be attached to the treasurer's uh information. Uh apologies again and thank you for your grace as we are making sure that we do our due diligence to bring our finances forward to the public. Um but hopefully we get into the cadence where at the work session we can actually present and move forward the financial report to the business meeting and then we won't
073have to do this during the business meeting. >> Any more questions? All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. >> 10.22 22 authorization to hire staff for the Mount Vernon Aquatics Facility during the fall 2025. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Question. May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? >> Oppose. >> Um, you oppose. Abstain. >> Thank you for including the dates. Um, >> that's it. Any motion carries. >> 10.23. Authorization to hire staff for the Mount Vernon Special Olympics Pioneer Games for 2025 2026. May I have a motion? >> Question. >> I have a second. >> Sorry. May I have >> May I have a second? >> I got Yeah, I have first and second >> questions. All in favor? >> I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion
074carries. >> 10.24. Authorization to remove impartial hearing officer Jeffrey Silverson from case number 655258. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> You got that question? May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Abstain. >> Abstain. Yes. Okay. Motion carries. >> 10.25. Appointment of impartial hearing officer for case number 655258. May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Questions? All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. We're at policies section 11.1 authorization to wave the third readings for board of education policies which have been read on resignation um resignation and dismissal of board member 1310 1321 1322 1331 1510 1410 and immediately adopt stopped. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Questions? May I have a vote? >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain.
075Motion carries. >> We also have we're at at section 12, acceptance of minutes from our previous meeting, 12.1, acceptance of minutes for July 29, 2025. May I have a motion? Motion >> second >> questions >> any uh vice president Mitchell >> just so I'm confirming the minutes are on the district site that can be found correct >> it's on board docs >> yeah so anybody goes to board docs they click on minutes and all the minutes will be there so that's released every two weeks and there's two weeks there is a link on the district site that takes you to board docs isn't it okay good thank All in favor? >> Any oppose? Abstain. Mot motion carries. >> 13. Executive session. >> Have a motion. We go into an executive session. I forgot. I have
076to >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> Oh, no. I'm sorry. I forgot to uh thank the students who painted >> Trusty Kelly. I just want to I just want to acknowledge people so people know who's speaking. So, Trusty Kelly, >> I wanted to acknowledge the students who painted the mural in the back of the school. Tyreek Jones, Deshawn Virgo, Jamar Bowen, Sanchez, Desawn Brown, Mohamad Masu or Mo, and Miss Shams. They painted the mural for the greenhouse uh pilot uh initiative in the back of the school. And I just wanted to give a shout out to those students at Mount Vernon High. >> Thank you. Sorry about that. Okay. No, no problem. Um, since you were not prepared to give comments when I asked for them, does anyone else have anything else before we go
077into executive session? Any comments from trustees at this point? Thank you. >> So, okay. Can I have a motion, please, to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation, the financial history of a particular person or corporation or matters leading to the appointment, employment, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of particular person or corporation and to receive legal advice on a pending matter. Can I have a motion, please? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> Okay. Any opposed? Motion carries. We are in executive session. Okay, we are moving to executive session and I just want to thank the public for coming to our meeting. We will not be returning to this room. So, thank you and have a fabulous week.