001[Music] Good afternoon. Good evening, everybody. Good evening. Good evening. Your mic is on. My mic is on. Hi. Welcome to the Mount Vernon City School District's special meeting. Today's Wednesday, May 14th. 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. Trusty Mcdana, present. Trusty Marabel, present. Trusty Mitchell, present. Trusty Middleton, present. Trusty Injenga, here. Trusty White present. Trusty Kerwin here. VP Kelly here. And President Saunders here. Okay. We have a quorum. I don't have my my laptop with me. Yes. Oh. Um, we'll go right into public comments if anyone has anything from the public to say. Brenda Crump. Good evening everyone. Good evening. Thank you for um allowing
002public comments, following the policies that you have created, opening up communication from the community. I want to um you haven't voted on the resolution yet, but it is my assumption that it will pass. So, I want to congratulate Dr. Strickland. I'm assuming is he Dr. Strickland? No, he's not the Dr. Strickland. Okay. Well, we don't know where the mystery Dr. Strickland is, but hopefully is he here. Will we meet him tonight? Okay, he is here. He's hiding out until the vote pass, but that's good. All right. So, I want to um say that and I think I'm safe with saying we we as in the community. We uh hope that the board has chosen someone that we seek a superintendent who understands the board's authority while also possessing the integrity to advocate for the best
003interests of the district, its children, and the community when necessary. We desire superintendent skilled in uniting diverse groups. We require a superintendent with a proven record of success in revitalizing underperforming school districts. We need a superintendent with a proven record of guiding districts out of financial difficulty. Lastly, we seek a superintendent with a strong background in providing rigorous curriculum instruction. So, Dr. Strickland when the resolution passed. I'm pre pre saying it. Congratulations and um to the board for bringing this to fruition. So we will have a new superintendent and be able to move forward with that part of our district. Thank you. And once again, thank you for the opportunity to speak at a special uh board meeting. And see it wasn't that bad. Not that bad. Nothing to fear. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
004you. Thank you. Want to move move on to the resolutions. Anyone else? I don't think anyone else is signed up. Anyone else? Does anyone have any questions regarding the All right. Resolution. Okay. We're going to move on. Okay. So, when we ready to move on? So, our first order of business, resolution 2.1, approve a settlement agreement and general release for employee number 1028. Can I have a motion, please? Motion. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. Okay. I have a motion for 3.1, appointment of Dr. Deario Strickland as superintendent of schools effective July 1st, 2025 for a term to expire on June 30th, 2029. Can I have a motion, please? Second. Okay. Okay. Second. Second and a half. Second. Questions, concerns, discussions? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion
005carries. [Applause] I have something to say. I am delighted that Dr. Mario Deario Strickland has been selected. I've known him in the big five and we have a tremendous relationship. So, passing the torch will be wonderful. We've had several conversations. I have a a whole day planned for him tomorrow and starting on Friday. So when he comes um I I'll be delighted. I saw him this evening and I saw him this evening. Come up here and shake your hand. He can come here and shake our hands. Um he's a terrific guy and like I said I I gladly passed the torch to him. Thank you Dr. Smith. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We know you have something to say, but we just wanted you to shake everyone's hands. Absolutely. While you um Where's
006he gonna go? to the podium. Dear, you can go right to the podium and say what you have to say. Okay, the Mario Strickland. Stop. Uh, I do this every day and I'm nervous. I just had a a board meeting last night. Uh, but, uh, I want to say first and foremost, good evening to everyone. Um, thank you, uh, board of education for your trust in me. Uh, I promise that I will not let you down. Uh I can honestly say that uh definitely looking forward to working with uh the staff uh the community, the students most importantly. Um but here here we go. This is what I have to say. Um thank you for welcoming me into this community. It's a humbling honor to be appointed superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District.
007I want to thank uh interim superintendent Dr. K. Smith for her leadership, her grace, and unwavering commitment to this community. Dr. Smith, like I stepped into this role with strength and vision during a pivotal time. And thanks to her able stewardship, this district is in a better place. Mount Vernon deserves the best. Its students, its educators, its families, and the entire community deserve the very best. Your brilliance, your talent, your culture, and your commitment to progress are real. This district has everything it needs to succeed. What we need now is unity, clarity, and boldness of purpose. Together, we will prioritize student achievement, school safety, and staff well-being. Together with our board, city council, and state legislators, we will advocate for excellence for every student and a spirit of collaboration between our teachers, students, and families.
008I am here to work hand in hand with you together pushing toward a collective boldest collective boldest ambitions. We will both honor what is working and confront what is not to ensure that every student knows they matter and every student has the opportunity to do their very best. We will strengthen academic pathways, uplift our arts and athletics, and ensure the that mental health and student voice are always centered. We will make sure that student advisory councils are engaged and heard. And I promise that I will approach my role by listening first, always learning, and growing along our students. Over the next 90 days, we'll engage in real dialogue about what matters to this incredible community. My entry plan focuses on four key pillars: relationships, trust, alignment, and results. I will visit every school and work
009with staff to identify barriers and build solutions that reflect your voice and our shared vision. We will celebrate what's already great and we will courageously face what must change. I make my commitment to you that our work together will always be centered on students empowering force our staff and responsive to our community. Together with honor, with courage, and with unshakable belief in each other, we will do remarkable things. Thank you. [Applause] Thank you, Dr. Strickland. Um, we have um some cake and and things. If the community wants to indulge in some cake and soda and all the things bad for you, you're welcome to have some. Um, I got Okay. Um but uh some of the board members want to have a discussion with our legal staff. He wants to go into exec for a
010minute. Just legal if you don't mind. Okay. So we need to go into exact. Yeah. Just for a minute. Yes. If you don't mind. So can I have a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation the financial 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 move second? Okay. All in favor? question. I have a question. Um, will we allow Dr. Strickland to engage with the community while we're in executive session so that we can That was going to be my next statement. Yeah. We're going to come back. We're going to be back in about 15 minutes. Thank you. Thank
011you. All in favor? Um, any oppose? I don't have abstain. Okay, motion carries. We are in executive session. Hello. Ladies and gentlemen, can I have a motion, please, to enter back into public session? Motion. Second. Second. Second. Okay. Questions, concerns, discussions? None. Any all in favor? I oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. We are back in public. And okay. Can I have a motion to adjurnn? Motion. Motion. Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstain. Motion carries. Meeting is adjourned. Thank you. [Applause]