001[Music] Wait, is she still on? Attention. I would like to call this regular Mount Vernon City School District board meeting to order. Everyone, please stand for the pledge. I pledge algiance 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. Thank you. Please note that trustee Sabina Kelly will be joining tonight's meeting via video conference. Trustee Peterson present. Trusty Brown present. Trusty Scott present. Trusty Mcdana present. Trust Trusty Middleton present. Trusty White present. Trusty Kelly here. VP Mitchell present and President Marabel present. Okay. Student trustee Adoro present. Okay. We have our quorum. We will now have communication from the public and I would like to read a statement to you. Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to
002convene 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 their 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. However, if we are able to, we will. This is because we take your concerns and questions seriously and want to have sufficient time to process and research certain issues if we need to. We will however respond to your questions and your concerns at a future meeting if we do not address them
003in the in the meeting or we will have our proper staff member get back to you at the appropriate time. I would also like to point out that under state and federal privacy laws, we are unable to entertain any comments or questions about school personnel. Please know, however, that we take personnel concerns very seriously on these matters. We would ask you to go through the appropriate administrative channels and we will provide you with an organization chart. There is one available on the website, but I will ask that our board clerk make it available during our board meeting so that you will have that information readily available. 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
004example to our students that 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 may possess. We ask that speakers please address their comments to the board directly rather than to the audience. Speakers may address the items that are on the agenda or they may address other topics of concern. In the unlikely event that the meeting becomes unruly because I know that you will maintain respect and civility, the board may have to recess the meeting and return once order has been restored, but we don't anticipate any of that happening here in Mount Vernon. Finally, I
005want to remind everyone that you may submit written comments to the board in lie of speaking during the public comment period if you choose. We ask that you do that using our email accounts. We they are all available on the board website. But again, I will ask that that the clerk provide them in hard copy to members when they come to our meetings. The board will now entertain public comment for I'm not sure how many people are here tonight for about 30 minutes. Each individual speaker is allotted three minutes with an additional minute to wrap up. The individual time limits will be enforced so that as many members of the public who wish to address and speak to the board are allowed to do so. I would also like to uh say to you that
006I know that this board wants to make sure that the public has all access to whatever the board is addressing. We are going to look at other means of streaming the board meetings. We are also going to look at other vehicles and ways to make sure that our communication is transparent, that it is full, it is comprehensive, and that you feel valued, and that you feel heard. Thank you. Our [Music] first speaker tonight is Maba Lucio. MBA Lucio, Mark Stucky. Good evening. Before the clock starts, I'd like to give a moment of silence for two people. one who worked in the district here um within our bus service and one who was uh a member of the community who work with our young people by the name of Marian Archer and the one in the
007in the um bus service was Hines. A moment of silence for their loss and the loss of Miss um Miam. Thank you. You know, it it's when we lose people, we should give honor because you don't know when it's your time. And as a person said a long time ago, how would you like to be remembered? and me. I would like to be remembered as a fighter for the city of Mount Vernon educational system. I stand here today. My name is Mark Stugge. I am the whistleblower. To the new board members who was reappointed this evening. I'm not here to fight with you. I'm going to give you 1,000% of my support because we have made a change. Now, it's time to make it better. And I know that it's going to be better. To
008those who was been sitting here, you who believe in the system, who've been me misled through the system, thank you for working to make that change. It's time to move forward. And I know we're going to have a better year. I stand here today because there's a way we can save money and build our fund balance. The whole thing is who is willing to listen. I walked through one of our plants today, one that was recently done over Mandela. And I would like each and every one of you to walk through that plant. We have air conditioning units sitting on the roof that are not working the way they're supposed to be working cuz they not even running. They're brand new. We need you to take a look. We have an air conditioning unit. I
009was informed today that was for the main office, a new one that was installed on that roof. My question was, it's 5 years old. The people who came to make the change, why I'm saying it's not working. Okay. Was it Philip Freon? Did you do the the necessary checks on this unit to make sure you know what can be if it can be repaired before you rip it out? But do it honestly. A lot of things is not taking place in this district right now. It's not being done honestly done. I see that we made a change and abolished I believe that it was said on our grounds. crew. How can you wind up abolishing something when it seems like to me I can be wrong, but you put something in place ahead of time
010for one to make money off of it. Now look at that contract. Are we spending money to have someone come in? Cuz I understand it's a large sum of money itemized. Okay, look at that contract. How many people bidded on the contract? And C, does it outweigh our staff, which I say it does not because our grounds crew move furniture, move boxes. Who's going to do that? This was all put into place to destroy our system. Right now, you need to stand back, look at the picture of the corruption that was done to hurt us. And I said corruption. It's all about making money the way I'm seeing it. Take a look, evaluate. I'll give you the the resource, the tool, the the information or whatever, but do your homework. The employees in this district
011is not here to hurt you, to to do anything wrong. We are here to help you to build. If we wind up doing things a certain way, we can build build a fund balance before you know it. Mr. Superintendent, I don't know what you may have heard about me and I'm putting it on the table, okay? Some may be true, some may not. I'm not here to knock or destroy your seat. I am here to help you. Listen to what I have to say. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. for your comments. Thank you, Lawrence Huge. Huge. Good evening. My name is Lawrence Hughes. I am a city worker for the Mount Vernon City School District. Um, as of today, I am a former groundsman. I was recently reassigned back into
012the building due to budget cuts or or as it was phrased at the last board meeting because we couldn't do the work. That statement was truly not was simply not true. The ground department has been understaffed for years. What has once a team of 13 to 14 people reduced to seven. Despite that, we have continued to complete our responsibilities, even take on tasks outside of our job title. That includes handling district-wide moves all departments within the school department, transporting materials across the district, making deliveries, and covering the pony delivery route when the measure is not is unavailable. Now, the district has hired an outside company to take over landscaping and grounds work for the 25 to 26 school year. Work that we faithfully done for years without help. We never had help cutting these schools
013in during these moves. To make matters worse, they're rumored that they're going to reduce our salaries even though we've been we've been working for this long. They're taking they're going to abolish our positions and we don't know what's going on with our future cuz they barely send anything to us except send an email. We given years of hard work, dedication, and pride to this district, our blood, sweat, and tears. And now without any discussion or respect, we're being cast away. And that's not right. And we deserve better. That's all I needed to say. That's all I wanted to say. I thank you for your time, Mr. Hughes. I just want to say thank you for the service that you've given to date. Thank you for your comments as well. Brenda Elcrump. I got this thing
014so high. No, I'm not that tall. Thank you. And you know I have to speak into the mic as often as I say. Please speak into the mic. Okay. Good evening everyone. I want to um discuss and ask a question about the special board meeting that was held on June 23rd u resolution 9.1 which it reads uh be it resolved that this board of education approves the portrait of Cecil H. Parker be moved to the board of education at the district office from Cecil H. Parker School. The the Cisu H. Parker school is one of the school buildings that will be closed effective July 1st, 2025. Motion by Lauren Cur Cerwin, second by Adrien G. Saunders. Final resolution. Motion carries. Yay. Adrien G. Saunders. Sabina Kelly, Lorna Kerwin, Wanda White, Helen Jingga, Nay, Len Middleton,
015Warren Mitchell, Abstain, Donna Marble, Chris Mcdana. My questions are, did that resolution have to be voted on on the 23rd? Could that resolution have not waited for some more board discussion before the public? And I would like for each trustee that voted upon that resolution to please explain your decision, your vote to the to your constituents as to why because Miss um Cynthia Kshaw Kers, what's her name? Krenshaw, Cynthia, I'm sorry, I know a Kershaw Cynthia Krenshaw, all the Cynthia, where she turn Jones. Okay. So, um Cynthia Krenshaw, a resident, came up and she spoke to the board in regards to the Parker family, a letter that she had from the Parker family, um expressing their gratitude, etc. But their wish, they asked that the donation that they made to Parker School, which I understand,
016I know that it's the property of the board because Parker School belongs to the board. So therefore, any donation belongs to the school district. But the family asked if the board would um donate it, loan it, present it, put it up at the library so that more of our um constituents within the city and abroad and patriots would be able to see it and a whole write up and dialogue and information can be put along with the portrait. Um I want to give some kudos to President um Hope Marble because she's very good with stuff like that. So I'm sure she would have done something really nice. But my question is, so will each of you please explain to your constituents why you made the decision that you did about moving the portrait from Parker
017to the board of education. Trustee Middleton asked a question about why is the portrait being moved from Parker to the board of education and she was totally dismissed, disregarded, and ignored by her board colleagues. I, as your constituent amote to move the portrait of Cecil H. Parker, Miss Parker, from the Parker School to the Board of Education versus the um library. And I want to also say this to you board members being on that side, being in the back room, please do not hide behind executive session because a lot of things I'm not back there now, but I've been there before and sometimes thing take place, discussions take place that's not executive session. And so although you might have wanted to talk to the lawyers about the possession, whose portrait is it, the discussion as
018to where it goes, that was not executive session. That should have took place before the public, before your constituents. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Crump. Um, I do want to answer a couple of the questions that you did ask. Number one, you asked whether or not some trustees could respond in terms of why. As you are aware, some of those trustees are no longer on the board. So, you would have to contact them directly in terms of asking them what they thought and what their thoughts were. And I do believe that um it is the property of the city school district, that particular portrait, and I believe that there is an opportunity to have further discussion about it. So, thank you. Oh, next question that voted, please explain to their constituent their vote, why they
019voted the way they did. That was my question. Thank you. Um, Trusty White would like to Trusty White would like to make a comment. Thank you, Trusty White. I feel my reason for voting for it to be in the board of education because she was the first black teacher and this is the educational center. So, I think if we can find a very nice place to hang it where everyone can see it with a little light above it and a name tag until we find a permanent place for it, that's why I voted for it to be sent to the Mount Vernon Board of Education because she was our first black um teacher. I can explain the reason why I voted against or abstained. It was because there's never enough babies in this building at
020one time to be able to appreciate that portrait or know who she was. Uh I felt that the library would have been a better place. And that shouldn't be the end of it. I think that we should also have that portrait on the district site as part of our historical corner, which is something we should be adding. I think we can add to the district site at some point. We have a lot of different uh historical figures in Mount Vernon who are extremely important uh as far as you know Cecil Parker, Dr. Zolakoffer. Um we have many many rich parts of our history educational wise that we should not put them I wouldn't put them here me personally cuz my babies don't never come in here for anything. Only people come here and pay taxes
021or come sit the board meetings. The rest of the kids don't know anything. and they'll never see those p that picture again because until they're old enough to walk in here, you know. So, that was the reason why I voted the way I voted. Um, I'll share why I abstained. I abstained because number one, we know that the building is closing. We don't know, we don't know whether or not what's going to happen with that building. We wanted to protect and secure that property because it is ours. If we release that property to someone else, then we lose ownership. we lose the recognition that she received when she earned it. And I do believe that we do have an opportunity to reconsider where it is that we put it. Lyn, oh, sorry. Go ahead. You
022go first. I I'll back clean up. I want to say good evening everybody. Um there's history behind that portrait and if you weren't there, then you don't really know I was there. And you know, given the fact that Park, Miss Parker was um one of the first black teachers around, um I think that the public deserves and even on young people who visit the library um deserves to see what you know the real history is behind who she really was and what she really meant to this community and to the Parker School being named after her in about 1983 if I'm correct because I was there when it was Nathan Hill changed to Parker School. Mary Spells became the principal. So, there's a whole lot behind that that if you don't really know, then you
023probably don't really mind it being here. I don't know how many people going to come here and see it, but um you know, I abstain because it definitely deserves to be in the eye of the public. It's history and it's rich history. It's our history. And our people and our young people need to know the history behind who Miss Parker really was. Hi. Uh, I don't want to be redundant. I shared a lot of the concerns other trustees mentioned. I abstained. Um, I agree. I didn't think it needed to be brought up that night. I thought we had time. Certainly, I'm concerned about it remaining in a building. If the building is going to be closed, will it degrade? Will it not be cared for? But I didn't think we needed to make that decision
024on the 23rd. Certainly, I agree it didn't need to be discussed uh in executive session, and it was on an executive session agenda. My colleagues will tell you I am a stickler. I am a a radical transparentist. I want as much public facing as possible. And I brought that up saying why is this being discussed in executive session? It had no business being discussed there. So I'm I'm with you on that. Basically I didn't have enough information at that time. The library was brought up. It seemed like a reasonable idea. I think we have time to sort of work through that. And we have a whole new group of trustees coming in a week from the 23rd of June. it seemed reasonable to wait and take our time a little bit, talk about it in
025public and get the community sense. So that's why I abstained. Thank you. And also, we do have a we may have a potential conflict of interest, so we just want to make sure that we do it the right way. Thank you, Kenny Miller. Thank you, trustees. Thank you. Um, good evening everyone. Um, first congratulations to the newly seated board members. Um, as well as the leaders here and the new superintendent. Um, this is an important moment for Mount Vernon certainly. Um, my name is Kenya Miller. I am the founder and executive director of Intellectus Preparatory Charter School. Um so first and foremost I thought it was important for me to show my face um and to ensure that I am once again presenting an opportunity for collaboration and for partnership to this new board uh
026collectively. Um the reason why um I requested to speak tonight is because we had uh turned in a letter of interest for a particular property um that is one of the buildings that are being closed and was told that the former board was not willing to um make any decisions or have any discussions about it at that time and therefore we needed to wait until the transition happened. Um, I actually have a newborn at home, so I'll be rushing to get back to her um, just in a few minutes, but I wanted to make sure that I came here to present um, some of those thinkings and thoughts directly to the board here. One of the main concerns um, that I continue to hear over and over again um, is in regards to charter school
027funding and charter schools drawing money from the uh, school district in totality. Um, and while we can debate and have a lot of conversations about how to trace funding and and where that funding truly comes from and how it impacts everything overall, um, we do know that the state has a sloppy way of doing things. It's just a part of the work um, and a part of what we experience. But the ultimate goal here is to go ahead and fund some of that money back into our public dollars. Right now, we are a public school giving money to a private landlord. Um, we pay city taxes, we pay school district taxes, and we have never complained or made any noise about that. Um, which just is a testament to our willingness to continue to work
028together and to support the district. We're not here in competition for um against rather Mount Vernon City School District. What we do is we offer something that's not offered elsewhere. And I'm happy to talk offline or directly to any one of the school um district members about the uniqueness of our programming. Um but I believe that public dollars should stay public dollars for as long as they possibly can. Um and that's my stance on it. Um I am going to be resubmitting that LOI or have our real estate team resubmit the LOI. Um and I will be getting the um email addresses and all the contact information from Clerk Rita James. Um and and ultimately the the goal here is to ensure that I have an additional minute. Okay, thank you. Is to ensure that
029we are also protecting the assets of the school district. I understand that selling might be um something that is uh a a very quick way to get money and to start closing some of those funding gaps, but to have a long-standing tenant where there's rental increases, the same things that we would be giving someone private, we could be giving right back to the school district. Um and I think that it makes sense. I think it's a wonderful opportunity. Um, there are other school districts in other places that have very similar demographics to ours that have figured this out, have done this, and have done it successfully for years. Um, and I think this is a great opportunity for our community. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your comments. Um, I do want to
030direct you and let you know that due to that is one of the restrictions under open public meeting law that we do not discuss those items. So, I just wanted to let you know that's why we will not comment. Thank you. Thank you. And that ends public comment for this evening. Great evening everyone. Uh hope everyone is doing well. First and foremost, I just want to thank uh this this board uh the community stakeholders uh for your extremely warm welcome. Uh I'm excited to begin my my tenure into the district. Uh just um to give you a little uh preview of how I will generally provide uh my information to the public. Um I will always have a presentation at our monthly board meetings and that will actually recap all of the things that have
031happened uh that are noteworthy uh for that month. um it will be uh projected on the screens and it will be a way to continuously celebrate the good news. I want to uh thank uh all of those individuals that have come out to my let's talk sessions. Uh they have been well attended uh also uh streamed on Facebook. uh I've been able to actually engage the public in in uh with their questions that have been posed on Facebook as well and um I have no problem doing so and I'm looking forward to the next let's let's talk uh se segment at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts on July 12th from 11:30 to 1:30. Um, I will also uh be presenting uh the uh stakeholders of the district and the community with weekly spotlights,
032a small quick blurb, something that's highlight that we need to highlight or focus within the district, um a monthly family newsletter. I want to also take the time and thank those individuals that have all that had completed the survey that I put out there about the district culture and climate. um over uh 1,400 individuals responded um with 100 stakeholders actually completing that survey and I got to give a shout out to the the babies aka the children or students um because that they actually had the highest number of responses. So I'm very very pleased that I'm going to be able to use those data and actually begin my uh strategic planning process. And uh finally, I'm just looking forward to meeting with uh members of the community. Um being out there in the streets, as
033I like to say. Uh please give me a little time. Uh I just literally uh started stopped my last job last night at about 8:30 uh p.m. Um and then uh drove right to Mount Vernon, got here at 3 a.m. and uh started uh Brighton early uh this morning. But definitely excited to serve the community. I listen to everything that people are saying. Um and I definitely will ensure that we are in a space where we do some sort of followup. Do know that agreement or you know uh it it doesn't necessarily equate to we can fix it or what have you, but do know that I will always listen. I will always listen and look for a resolve in some way, shape, or form. Uh so with that being said, this is my last
034like regular um uh comments uh or what have you. I will normally be talking to you via the PowerPoint presentation. So thank you. Thank you. We do not have any committee reports tonight as we will be appointing new committee chairs and we will be appointing new committee members. So, we do not have any committee reports tonight. Thank you. [Music] So, great evening again, uh, board trustees. Uh, just an FYI, um, I was a part of this, uh, I was a part of the tab review for uh, this board meeting. So, um, but I was still also a part of another school district. I'm also needing to close out my last school board meeting which was last uh Thursday. Uh so please do understand that there will be some amendments that are actually made from the
035floor. Um I will once we get to those uh actual tabs um I will ask uh members of my uh cabinet to actually interject to tell you what those um amendments are. And by this way we keep the business of the school district moving so that we don't have to halt and then uh you know put uh forth resolutions at a later time. So I thank you for your patience and normally this would not be one of those situations that uh would happen uh but for tonight I just need to be very clear that this needs to happen tonight. Thank you. Okay. So we're going to jump on to our resolutions. Um, can I have a motion please for 5.1 human resources 129A certified? Motion. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? Oh, go ahead.
036I My question is was did I miss something or was there backup? Cuz remember you said to refresh too, right? I did refresh and I didn't see it for the certified. So just wondering if I missed it. I don't know. It says it's there. Oh, cuz I didn't It didn't come up on my computer. I don't know. But anyway. Okay. Yeah, it's there. Okay. All in favor? Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 5.2 Two, human resources 130B classified. Motion. Second. Question. Questions, concerns? Um, can you refresh my memory? Did we? Did we get a count as to how many nurses we're going to have? Looks like it's seven. Is that correct? I don't recall getting a response on that question. At this time, I don't have an answer to that question,
037but what I'll be sure to do is actually find out and share with the entire board. Thank you. Thank you. All in favor? I oppose. I abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 5.3 request for a leave of absence. Motion. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 6.1 approval for merge athletics activities with Toko High School for 2025 2026. Motion. Second. Uh questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. You have a motion for 6.2. authorization to hire staff for the summer smart scholars program at Denzel Washington School of the Arts and Mount Vernon High School from July 7th through the 31st, 2025. Have a motion. Motion second. There's an amendment on the floor for this resolution. It should read
038um at the bottom, any district nurse can serve as a substitute nurse for the program. Thank you, Dr. Dogger, for that amendment. All in favor? We have to vote on the amendment first. Any oppose? You have to I'm going to withdraw the first the Oh, you Okay. One of you guys. Can I have a motion to amend 6.2? Motion. Okay. Second. Yes. I need a second. Second. Okay. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Okay. Motion carries for the amendment. Can I So, can I have a motion, please? 6.2 as amended. authorization to hire staff for the summer smart scholars program at Denzel Washington School of the Arts and Mount Vernon High School from July 7th to the 31st. Second. All in favor? I I Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Have a motion, please, for
0396.3, authorization to accept the Teacher Center of Central Westchester NYC grant for the 2526 school year. Can motion have a second? Second. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. We have a motion for 6.4. Authorization to hire staff for the summer Lehman Scholars Learning United with Success Plus program for Mount Vernon Steam Academy students at Denzel Washington School of the Arts July 7th to 31st, 2025. Motion. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? Any oppose? Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Okay. I have a motion for 6.5. Authorization to hire high school scheduling teams to update and finalize the master schedule for the 2526 school year. motion. There's an amendment on the floor. On this amendment for steam, we would like to take the teacher off, Miss Anna Rodriguez, and
040replace that with the principal, Dr. Christopher Pierce. The reason is that there were two different lists submitted, one without his name. And as you can see, he's the only principal missing from the resolution. No, he's the administrator. There's two ad there's three staff members per school. Okay. What was the name that you said was being taken? Anna Rodriguez, the teacher. Just so I'm understanding, there's supposed to be three administrators from each of the buildings. Three staff members per school. If you look at one of them, there's four because the counselors are splitting the position. Okay. Um, is there any reason was there any rhyme and reason to why it was principles sometime or counselors at the time? Just from my understanding, it's whoever's on the schedule team that the principal sees fit. Who's part of
041the schedule? Principal see themselves fit. They're part of the schedule and they're responsible for schedule and they have to oversee it. So, it's usually principles, assistant principles and counselors. That's the norm. Okay. Okay. I get it. I get it. Thank you. Got it. So, can I have a motion to amend 6.5, authorization to hire high school scheduling teams to update and finalizes the master schedule for the 2526 school year? Motion second. Second. All those in favor? I. Any oppose? Oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 7.1 approval of pupil personnel services memorandum number one dated July 1st 2025. Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Have a motion for 7.2 approval to award the winners of RFP number 24/25-5, Special Education and Related Services. Motion second.
042Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppos? Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion, please, for 8.1, authorization to complete budget transfers for the 2526 fiscal year. Motion. Can I have a second? Second and question. Questions, concerns? I'm sorry. Did I ever was there ever a split of what the transfers were submitted? I know that the explanation was given by Mr. Ray Mundy that is a routine, but um was there anything ever shared that we could look at so that we can see the splits and how the money is being moved to and from? So the transfers haven't taken place yet. They'll be taking place over the month of July and completed before our audit in August. So this is so we can close out our books and reconcile so that we
043don't have zero balances. So, this is the green light so that we can begin to create those transfers and those transfers we will vote on and see the backup then. No, we're going to vote on it now that we can now go in and create those transfers because there could be a hundred or so. Say, Dr. Strickland, could you please explain because um I'm I'm I'm very uncomfortable with just doing a blanket um approval. So, so this is this is very actually very typical for a school district to do a blanket approval and then what we can actually do is come back and we show the line the the lines that needed to be uh transferred to. Um, so you know this is so that we can once again keep the work of the district
044going but then we would do our due diligence to come we have to come back and make sure you know exactly what it is that has happened and this will also help us um understand what actually can go back into hopefully uh a fund balance um or if we have to you know uh if we have to actually uh do something else like or that would require board action. Our July our July 15th meeting is a working session as opposed to it being a working session. Can we ask that those numbers be presented to us so that we don't have to um blindly approve these transfers? I'm not sure if we'll be complete by then, but I can whatever is completed we can share. [Music] Don't we have a meeting in in August? We have
045two meetings in August and we have a meeting in July as well. You you you're going to have this prepped in order for the outside audit that's going to be engaged in August. So maybe if we if we wait until the the meeting in August, would that be okay if we do it then? When is the audit? In August. Middle of August. Around the 15th, I believe. And when is our board meeting? I believe it's a is it a working session or is it a board meeting? I believe it's a working session, right? So, can we change that meeting to an actual meeting so we can vote and that way we will know what what those numbers look like? So, absolutely, President Marbo. Um, one of the things I want to be clear, I don't
046I want to keep our work sessions because we really do need to talk about the academics. Um, but one of the things that I want or that we could do that I could propose, we have a quick special meeting after and then that's when uh uh Mr. Ryandi can present those budget transfers uh to you all and it'll be within the time frame so that you're comfortable in seeing what happens. Thank you. You're welcome. That sounds like a that sounds like a um a compromise. Madam President, my followup, is it okay if I call you Madam President? I don't I don't I don't know if that's being rude or not. I don't I don't know. Mrs. Miss M. Um I I it looks like we have a meeting a regular board meeting on July 29th.
047So would that give you enough time that because that's the very end of the month. So if you if you can have it done by July 29th, then we don't have to change anything. I I I would just rather commit to the work session just to to ensure that I have the time to also go over those items with Mr. Rammind and the executive cabinet uh to make sure that we have all of our ducks in a row if if you will. Thank you. We're voting it now and then so if you agree so just for clarity because for our new board trustees who are um just trying to get acclimated uh if you agree to authorize these this resolution then you would vote yes. If you um are satisfied with Dr. Strickland's um proposal,
048then you would vote no. Okay. All in favor? Excuse me. So So the the the motion is to authorize to complete budget transfers. If you agree with that then your answer then your response would be yes. If you don't agree and you are in fa you are satisfied with Dr. Strickland um waiting for a special meeting to do it then your answer for this resolution would be no but don't we have to authorize the transfers it would be first the transfer in order to start this process to start the process then once the process is started then at our meeting then we'll be able to go forward right that's that's good that's correct um we're making a commitment to bring those transfers back to you however we do need board authorization to actually move forth.
049So again, this resolution says that you authorize to complete the budget transfers, meaning that they have carb blanch to actually do the budget transfers, make the budget transfers happen. If you vote yes on this resolution, if you vote no, then they have to present the information, provide documentation in the executive content or even in the public content and then we would approve it. But if you vote yes on this, that means you're authorizing them to do whatever they need to do and then they just come back and provide you with the paperwork. Correct. Correct. After the fact. After the fact. But if you vote no, then they have to they can present you with the paperwork and then you would approve it after they have shown you what it is that they're planning to do.
050But then they won't be able to do the transfers without our That is correct. So, but they need to do the transfer by August 15th for the audit. And that is why we asked for the July 15th if they could present some of the items that they had. We also asked for July 29th and there's the uh I guess the audit is the middle of August. So if you have to actually do it and you have the information, you can present it to us in July and you will be prepared for August. But to ask us to do it after the fact, I believe that's part of the discussion in the question. But to ask us to do it after you've already done it is basically saying, okay, ratifying what you've already done. Okay. So,
051we want I think we would feel comfortable with the backup before we give you the rubber stamp on doing the transfer. And how long do you think you need to provide us the documentation? I mean, we're looking at a possibly hundreds of transfers. This is so we don't have negative codes when we run our appropriations reports. I mean, I can't say at this point in time. We have to We just finished closing. We're in the process of closing out our books. We rolled over our new budget. So, we haven't even begun that process yet. We would this would take place first so that now the business office can now reconcile all those negative balances everything so we can have um a clean sheet moving forward and prepare for our audit for the auditor's report that
052they'll present to you in the fall. And so is it I'm I'm a new trustee. So is it customary that this is done at this end of the close of the school year or is it done like as soon as school is out and then you start this this is um standard operating procedure for every going out. Okay. Um just make for clarification, it is standard operating procedure for us to close out all the accounts, remove all the variances. However, there's usually documentation that shows us what it is you're moving. So my question to you again is even if you present them to us in different forms, if if there's 50 one one meeting, 50 another meeting, I mean you have to do the work anyway. You still have to do the work. Correct. That
053that's no problem, President Marble. We'll we'll definitely whatever the will of the board is, we'll definitely make sure that we get the information uh the way exact I I get what the essence of what you're trying to say. I will I just want you all to know this is no different than a lot of other school districts though. Okay. But I committed to making sure that you see those hundreds of lines possibly. Thank you. Okay. Call for the question. So, all in favor? I I I. Any oppose? Opposed. Opposed. So, Trusty Brown, oppose. Opposed. Trusty Peterson, opposed. Trusty Scott. Trusty Mcdana. I I vote yes. Okay. Trusty Marabel opposed. Trusty Mitchell opposed. Trusty Middleton. Trusty White. Yes. And and Trusty Kelly. Yes. Okay. This this motion fails. Can I have a motion, please, for 8.2?
054Approve the internal claims orders report dated May 2025. Motion. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions. All in favor? I I I oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. Okay. Do I have a motion for 8.3 approve the treasures report dated May 2025? Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppo? Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Okay. I have a motion for 8.4. Approve the settlement of tax proceedings for 60 Westport Street. Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Have a motion for 8.5 approval of the extension of services from first student transportation for summer field trip. Motion. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 8.6 approval to extend agreement with Bruce Singer as financial consultant. Motion. Can I have
055a second? Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? I have a I have a question. I'm just trying to get clarity. We have in the mic. Oh, I didn't know I wasn't close enough. Um, and I have a question. So, the difference between this the work that this consultant is going to do and capital market advisors is what? So, this is a consultant that we've had work with the former business administrator. They work on the day-to-day operations providing additional oversight and consulting resources. Whereas capital markets we would appoint as a financial adviser on behalf of the entire district which we also would use at their discretion. And so they provide a range of services from uh looking at short and long-term borrow borrowing. So I'm trying not to use my accent. It's getting me tripped up. Uh short
056and long-term borrowing. Here we go. uh our ability to uh close out our books better, uh working with our fiscal monitor, um our long range financial plan. So, it's a much more global view than uh the consultant for the business office that just works with the business office. So, granular versus top down. Exactly. Um and how would this impact the state monitor that's coming in that's also going to be involved in our finances? Uh I I wouldn't know the answer to that. So, so basically uh they will be doing something similar but from the state uh lens. So they would be thinking about best practices making recommendations on how we could actually sustain money and then putting those recommendations forward to the state monitor who then reports that to the commissioner of education. So very
057different. Uh it is a group effort. Um, but nonetheless, all working in tandem to really try to get the district back into great financial state. Thank you. You're welcome. I do have a couple of questions. The contract that's that's listed here is an old one. It's not current. Um, so where's the new contract? And number two, is this financial consultant required for any anyone to be able to operate in their job? So the the way it reads, it actually should read and I'm seeing it up on the board that this is a to extend the services until an RFP is awarded by the board. I don't know why it's not written like that. So that would be an amendment on the floor. It's you know it's on here. Is it there? Yeah. Is it? Mhm.
058Yeah. This vote approves extender agreement with Bruce Singer as a financial Okay. I see in the small print. Yeah. Okay. So my question again, are we anticipating keeping this contract the way it is? Is there an anticipation to change it in an RFP? What is what is the plan here? The anticipation is to publish a new RFP with the same parameters. It will be tailored more towards the monitor coming in to the district. So this is to support the district with the monitor because the monitor is going to ask for a lot more financial information. So, we want to make sure that whatever RFP we publish, it speaks to that so that the districts is is prepared to answer and provide all information requested. So, just quickly, um I do know that you're probably looking
059for a timeline on the RFP. What I'll do is uh every Friday you will or excuse me, every week, I don't want to say Friday, uh to stick to a date, you will get a confidential letter. I will work with Mr. Ryandi uh to make sure that you understand when when the RFPs are being put forth. Okay. I I would also like to comment that the RFP is already in works with legal. I started that last week. It's just we want to make sure we have that content. We didn't get it out because it does take time to develop and award an RFP. How long are we extending this? So, we anticipate this maybe lasting for just a few months. I would say less than that. Well, you're right. Let's say a few months. It's
060as soon as the RFP is ready to go and it's published and it's awarded. So, we want I want to move quickly. I don't want things to lag. Okay. that this is just until a new RFP can be drafted and awarded by the board. Thank you. All in favor? I. Any oppo? Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion approval to extend agreement with MJB communications for the new school year. Motion. Second. Who is that? Me. Oh, okay. Question. Is this the same story here? Different story. Questions, concerns? Sorry. Please share. This is just an extension of the agreement that the district has with MJB communications for uh next year. The current current contract is so we are not anticipating a new RFP for this. And if we're not, why not? uh the original
061agreement it doesn't conclude it this can be renewed at the discretion of the board. So that's the motion on the floor is to renew the existing agreement uh by the board with the same parameters. Yes. Yes. All in favor I have a question. So when we approve this, grab the mic. So when we approve this, is it only mic? Mic on. Can you hear me? Good. Good. Good. So when we approve this, that means we will be able to see a new agreement with current dates. Old dates. Yes. Well, there should be an agreement in exec content. The contract. It's old. No, it's old dates. and so was the last one as well. Okay. So, we can we can update those dates in in align with our new school calendar. All in favor? I. Any
062oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 8.8 authorization to appoint Capital Market Advisers LLC as fiscal advisers during the 2526 fiscal year. questions, questions, concerns. Yeah. Should there should there be a an attachment here like the original contract? Is it an extension? Is it like or is an authorization to continue working with Capital Markets? We So, there's no contract. This is just an agreement that the district's entering to utilize them as our financial adviser. Dollars and cents. So, there's a fee structure. Uh, I reached out. There should be a fee structure in place that I did uploaded. Do you see it there? No, it's not in it's not in exact content. I don't see it. Yeah. So, there's there's a cap on and it's in on an as needed basis. We even Where's
063that at? It's in it's in the resolution. If you read down, this is 8.8. No. Yeah. Not 8. This is capital market. There's no dollars on it. It just it just says for the 2526 fiscal school year, but it doesn't have the cap. It doesn't show it. I'm just looking for something in documentation that says what dollars are involved. Um, can that be added to this? Yes, it can be added. Thank you. So, there is no fee for this? No, there's a fee. I believe I did send it to to Rita. I'll have to look back, but I'm pretty sure I sent it out. Yeah. Sorry, I didn't see it. Um I want to see. So do you know what the fee is? There's a variety of services they provide for different fee structures. Okay.
064Is this for um staff members or is this for the district to use? This is for the district. So Capital Markets did our long range financial plan. They did our studies. Uh this is at district level for them to continue to do that. Correct. If I'm not mistaken, you sent it. I think I have it here and it has like all these different things like compensation section two. I think we have it. So I think this is good but it would be nice to have it attached. It should be attached for the public facing so that they can see the dollars of their dollars being spent. Appreciate that. Where where do you have that? Right. So it appears there must have been a response to an email or a question of a board trustee. So
065it's probably in your email and you may because you're new trustees you may not have that information. I can forward it to you. But did they do they have their emails? District emails. So you would have received it is in in your district emails as new trustees. We check. Not not not that particular. So who did it come from? It came from re uh did it only? No, it came from Rita. Um and it had the two attachments on it. I can't see if the new trustees were in the blank copy, but u I can forward it to them now, but it'll be on the resolution. It'll be attached to the resolution either way. I'll I'll share it now. And this is a not to exceed contract. No, it just gives a split of the
066money. It's of the compensation structure. That's what it is. But at least it has dollars and cents so that we can understand and the public can understand what we should be paying and for what services we're going to receive. Can I can I may I um if you don't have enough information and you have not been able to review the information, you have to feel comfortable with your vote, right? So that's all I'll say. All in favor? Any oppose? I abstain. Abstain. Abstain. You abain. Mhm. Yep. Trusty Mcdana. Yes. Okay. Trusty Mitchell. I voted I. Well, that's because I have the contract. Okay. Trusty Middleton. I voted I. Okay. Trusty White. I and Trusty Kelly is there. No. All right. This this motion fails. Dr. Strickland, you have a comment. Yes. Yes. So, um this
067is a prime example of uh a situation where we're going to have to develop a cadence on how it is that information is asked for and being shared. Um so please know that you know this is something that I really want to work with the board on because the information was asked. Um the tabs were provided uh and I believe you know the diligence was done and I assume everyone does their diligence but we want to be sure that we keep the the the work of the district continuously moving. However, uh when one asks the question, we probably need to develop a mechanism in which the information is available to all the board members so that we don't get in these predicaments. Uh I am worried when when we vote things down that work can't
068continue. So I do want you to just be aware that that's something that I will actually um be discussing u at a later time. Can I just say something to that? Um I think it's very important. what you're saying is important because one thing when I'm reading the tabs and other things that I don't know about it says the board has approved and if we don't know about it then I don't know how it is that we approving something that we have not voted on that we don't know about. So we get here and you're right and we ask all these questions. So that that that's definitely uh uh in the days ahead something we must do. Generally the language is in the affirmative. Um, but I will say that's that's going to be the
069big purpose of the work session. So that when you get the tabs, we're going to actually review them. You don't see a contract. We will then say we're going to make sure or ensure that you have that information so that when we come to the board business meeting, we are just simply uh you are all aware and we can go ahead and vote um on the uh tabs that are before you. Thank you. Absolutely. Can I have a motion for 8.9? Appoint EFPR group CPA's PLLC as external auditor requests for a proposal. Can I have a motion please? Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppos? Any oppose? Abstain. Okay. Motion carries. I have a motion for 8.10 authorize SKA Consulting, Inc. for administrative and financial consultation services in connection with the
070Affordable Care Act for the 2526 fiscal year. Second question. We're paying them, right? They're going to be paid for their services. Questions, concerns? I'm sorry. So, um, if we don't have there's nothing attached here. It just says the firm. I'm sorry. I don't see an attachment and I Oh, I see. It's it's cost to not see 105. Okay. Thank you. Calling that out that it's right there shown in the resolution which is public facing. They can see the dollars the cap. Thank you. All in favor? I. Any oppose? I abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 8.11 authorization for the approval of PMA Management Corp. So, wait, there's an amendment on the floor. In the description, it reads February 1st. I'm sorry. Who? Um, can I have a motion? Who Who's it? Okay. Okay.
071In the description, it reads February 1st. It should read July 1st. Rita, did you change that on me? It says July 1st. Yeah, we changed. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, all in favor? I I oppose. Abstain. Okay. Motion carries. I have a motion for 8.12 authorization to pay other school districts for health and related services for the 2526 school year. Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? There. There's an amendment on the floor. Oh, I was waiting for the green lighting. Okay, so this one it should say in the description. Oh, she she changed it again. Very good, Rita. All in favor? I I Any oppose? I abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 8.13 authorization to renew the agreement with Brown and Brown to serve as a retail
072agent for insurance coverage for the 2526 school year. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions. All in favor? I. Any oppos? Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion for 8.14 authorization for replacement of coverage for the 2526 fiscal year with Affleck New York to provide extended health coverage. Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Abstain. Motion carries. Have a motion for 8.15 authorization to appoint Oric Herin and Scliffe as bond council June the 2526 fiscal year. Can I have a second? Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Okay. I have a motion for 9.1 approval of settlement agreement and release for hearing number 650824. Question. Uh, Rita, can we do Can I have a motion? Oh, what? Can we do 9.1 to 9.8 as a consensus since
073they're all No, these have to be individual. Okay. Uh, so can I have a try this? Can I have a motion, please? Can afterwards we will explain. Um, can I have a motion? Motion. Motion. Okay. Second, please. Okay. Questions, concerns, discussions. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. I have a motion. Uh I just want to explain to um our trustee that in a consent agenda, you can lump them all together, but this is not a consent agenda. If we had had a work session, we would have been able to um provide a a consent agenda and we would have been able to vote on them all at the same time. Okay. Thank you, Madam President. Okay. Can I have a motion for 9.2 Two, approval of settlement agreement and release for hearing
074650826. Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I I I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Have a motion for 9.3 approval of settlement agreement and release for hearing 650827. Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Okay. Motion carries. You have a motion for 9.4 approval of settlement agreement and release for hearing 650828. Motion. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I oppos. Oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. Okay. I have a motion for 9.5 approval of settlement agreement and release for hearing 650829. Motion sir. Questions concerns? All in favor? I oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. Okay. I have a motion for 9.6 approval of settlement agreement and release for hearing 650830. Motion second. Questions, concerns? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Have a motion for 9.7 approval of settlement
075agreement and release for hearing 650831. Motion second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Have a motion for 9.8 Eight, approval of settlement agreement and release for hearing 650832. Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Have a motion for 9.9 approval of settlement agreement and release for hearing 650833. Motion second. Questions, concerns, discussions. All in favor? I I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Can I have a motion please for 10.1 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 a particular person or corporation and to receive legal advice on a pending matter. Can I have a motion please?
076Motion. Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. We are in executive session. I'd like to thank each and everyone for coming out and for sharing with us tonight. We will be adjourning in executive session, so we will not be returning to the public. So, thank you very much and have a great holiday weekend.