[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6092589,"mediaKeyId","2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c","parentId",2852669,"title","Votes at a glance: board approves contracts, hires, fund transfers and project authorizations; one major contract tabled","audioSeconds",553,"startMs",4726000,"endMs",5279000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c&start=4726&end=5279","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c/thumbnail_4726000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6092589/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-board-approves-contracts-hires-fund-transfers-and-project-authorizations-one-major-contract-tabled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092589-1cd7c5cb3f04b63e2c1d6990c4fda174/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190875&Signature=NibXTYVgYQVvrF~wrwZNusQIlXJH4aSMHaLgt2EFTnX1HruojT5rNOifTBDGSfkLJ3a4HpeKs7JIcgmG6rNAZzxmoPeq-m7yuXXCKj-rbb4hY3LJt2Uh0~c11qvTgoAeqVBdUPANYvVZ1VGutQHKb~fQuJ2OXVu1mydQzpz7SW-UYfO1Pdz30Pj2IhBV6TETeq3uswF40Kk3FOUFA0sGRO5tKSOQPWXSz89d2FVxODJXY42hgHSikVpVQq3h4~KjtXPPFag7BQCg70GLU5DcMSEcocZBIBUcGT9LCKCaFjO9gYGUB0brQnEPwQtvXXn8wUytnvucvp3g6vibEQnUHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-02T21:07:01.977Z","article","The Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education recorded a series of motions and votes during its April 1 meeting. Most motions passed; one significant contract was tabled for further review. Below is a summary of recorded actions taken during the public session.

Key votes and outcomes

- 7.1 and 7.2, human-resources personnel approvals (classified and certified personnel items): motions carried (recorded as approved).

- 7.3, request for leave of absence: approved.

- 7.4, approval of a central-office title change for the reorganization (administrative title adjustment tied to conforming with an executive order): approved; no salary change recorded.

- 8.1, authorization for a Saturday Regents review program: approved; schools will notify parents and students through usual school communications.

- 9.1, approval of Pupil Personnel Services Memorandum No. 17 (dated 04/01/2025): approved.

- 9.2, amendment to a prior authorization to hire staff for an ELA academic program (McKinney-Vento program) for summer 2024\u001325: approved (amendment arose after a union question about classification and pay rates).

- 10.1, authorization for Sovereign Engineers to provide services related to district reorganization and reconfiguration: approved.

- 10.2, authorization to use Luzon Environmental Services for removal of a fuel tank at Williams School: approved.

- 10.3, rejection of one bid for 2024/25 snow removal (bidder failed to provide required bond): board formally rejected the bid and will republish the solicitation.

- 11.1, approval of general funds transfer dated 04/01/2025: approved.

- 11.2, approval of the internal claims auditor's report for February 2025: approved; audit-committee presentation requested for detail on findings.

- 11.3, approval of the treasurer's report for January and February 2025: approved; trustees requested a public walk-through of the report in June.

- 11.4, rejection of a proposal for a business operations and finance consultant: approved (proposal rejected).

- 11.5, proposed five-year contract with Southern Westchester BOCES to furnish certain computer services (2026\u00132030): motion to table passed; trustees asked for more time to review service-level agreement language and contract details.

- 11.6, authorization to accept a monetary donation to the Mount Vernon Educational Foundation: approved (amount reported on the agenda; trustees asked for details about prior foundation expenditures).

- 11.7 and 11.8, approval for boys and girls track teams to travel to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa.: both motions approved.

- Legal notice for the districtwide budget hearing and annual school board vote/election (publication schedule and ballot deadlines): read into the record and accepted as presented.

Several other personnel and consent agenda motions were moved and approved by voice vote; where the transcript records abstentions or requests for clarification, minutes reflect those remarks. The board entered and left executive session twice; items discussed in executive session were described generically on the public record as pending litigation and personnel matters. No binding labor contract changes were approved in public session on April 1.

Why it matters: the votes implement routine district operations (personnel, contracts, transfers) and authorize specific facility and professional services work; tabling the BOCES technology contract preserves trustees' ability to seek contract language changes before committing to a five-year agreement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mount Vernon Board of Education Regular Meeting April1 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 1 meeting the Mount Vernon board voted on personnel items, facility contracts, fund transfers and other routine business, approved several authorizations and rejected one proposal; a five-year technology contract with BOCES was tabled for further review.","taxTitle","MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",38455,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6092595,"Board highlights greenhouse, culinary lab and sensory rooms as student enrichment; seeks grants and partnerships",1876,1804000,3680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c&start=1804&end=3680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c/thumbnail_1804000.jpg","/articles/6092595/New-York/Board-highlights-greenhouse-culinary-lab-and-sensory-rooms-as-student-enrichment-seeks-grants-and-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092595-989dd49699d063d01ad7e8fc2695e661/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190875&Signature=UCD11WagB3CdE2wybmkWiMxyJ58elTlt-5fA12k1YpF4DTMBjMSukZD-wa4palZCS9iGI3W01seAqvIzuME3qoOH4szffZSPpwmNtZIVZrZS4PFeDUfcWHER5OSQ4fzYcMuAKsWDgcrk8B9U~5lDuwhKS0zB7hLSilTu~4Oyvl5nmbT29Yx5Rdoobvg7yo5CCUBTd1JNdNed8H7ehkw-rQifYkQ75pGpHvm5mRQBIitjbqK9UKbWGNCOXaEmR8IIqGfEWOKBmQ2Eo-B5fB3~q6Gf25LPXOrsqtByLskleghPSeMfzunfA7yWqaiNMucH5Ks4Ho1OpyUxpDsrbdvdvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trustees on April 1 reported progress on several student enrichment projects: a greenhouse and edible garden at Mount Vernon High School, a new culinary lab for career and technical education (CTE), and the district's work to expand quiet/sensory rooms for student wellness.

Trustee Kelly described a greenhouse at Mount Vernon High School that has been expanded this year to include an edible garden. The project, she said, was led by a science teacher who volunteered after coming out of retirement and aims to support career and technical education (CTE) pathways; the board is seeking a grant to fund summer jobs for students and to bolster the program.

Trustees and district staff also celebrated the ribbon-cutting for a remodeled culinary lab at the high school. Trustees said in-house crews refurbished an existing space, re-used equipment where possible and recruited culinary staff, and that the district secured a partnership with Goya to support the program. Speakers noted about 43 student chefs participated in the opening, and trustees described plans for future competitions and expanded outreach.

On wellness, trustees described quiet or sensory rooms at some schools where students can go to rest and calm down; officials said the rooms are low-cost, support mental-health goals and the district plans tours and broader adoption of similar spaces across buildings.

Why it matters: the projects combine curriculum, CTE pathways, mental-health supports and potential external funding. Trustees framed the programs as opportunities to create summer jobs, expand hands-on instruction and boost student engagement.

No formal board spending vote tied to these projects was recorded at the April 1 meeting; trustees said grant applications and future budget requests may be forthcoming.","Trustees and staff described new and expanding career and technical education projects including a greenhouse and edible garden at Mount Vernon High School, a remodeled culinary lab with a Goya partnership, and plans to expand sensory rooms for student wellness.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6092600,"Retired educator says lunch monitors' behavior amounted to \"verbal abuse\"; board told district acknowledges the problem",289,933000,1222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c&start=933&end=1222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c/thumbnail_933000.jpg","/articles/6092600/New-York/Retired-educator-says-lunch-monitors-behavior-amounted-to-verbal-abuse-board-told-district-acknowledges-the-problem","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092600-5e217634564c2c57ae43cf3b2c2cf561/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190875&Signature=PBDftKzsZIQEusM~mHGQXiB1EqIEgs3eeiYegC2WZPwV3MQnU69Qzc8T~Nk3QeMxCGDbUvq~Fz9mUXyxmh8-xGsn37HCdylqUc5dFC7hTYUpJRB-zBIbtpyDv8RnSJ1i-y7bs-q0y0nr3j5f3fPThClrOn9UFkUYMXroh0ZOt2NCc1jzgoKM6mvoWuhFP-60JDeTP7IIraPiPa-CNb7M6zXgJjZoGS48iO4QfrhWw8pTRhhIRcuty~HdXkWCGfJPATDqAjU7zU8lS8HkF8MVpIQI2Mrx7-8a5ZCQkX59--lNu5B7v8Pb6aNT3DZZxxSBR3MiXgno-CCVnKxBhP7H4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the public-comment portion of the April 1 Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education meeting, retired educator Linda Castro described repeated misconduct by lunch monitors that prompted her recent resignation.

Castro said she began serving as a lunch monitor at Honor Academy in February 2019 and resigned after becoming \"very distressed and frequently unable to sleep\" because of what she described as constant yelling and punitive treatment of students. She gave specific examples: students being shouted at for eating too slowly, punished without explanation, threatened with telling families, and subject to derogatory language. She also said movie screenings used as a fallback activity \"have little or no learning value.\" Castro said she alerted school and district administrators, who acknowledged to her that the problem exists across the district.

Why it matters: Castro characterized the cumulative effect of repeated verbal mistreatment as harmful to children's emotional and social development, and she cited medical and psychological organizations on the documented consequences of traumatic or punitive adult treatment.

Board President and staff allowed Castro an extra minute of public-comment time to finish her remarks. The board did not take action during the meeting; Castro said she raised the issue to the board \"because our children deserve better.\"","A retired educator who volunteered as a lunch monitor described frequent yelling and punitive treatment of students in school cafeterias, and said district administrators acknowledged the problem when she raised it.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6092605,"Board hears plan to close $7.7 million budget gap; city payments, state aid, and a short-term note discussed",585,2165000,2750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c&start=2165&end=2750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2852669-7fb356aeeba54c69a1ead9b318a1fc2c/thumbnail_2165000.jpg","/articles/6092605/New-York/Board-hears-plan-to-close-77-million-budget-gap-city-payments-state-aid-and-a-short-term-note-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092605-6fa282011713edca9f133ed0b528d890/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190875&Signature=bMPraWQt8FlHnvIkCU9BlEfJVeSJSSmoJguW35J1rTHOi7SSxdrG3mSdo0EF6L12T2K5AYLR~PG4Mcqk8VUG8uD2pWvpR2ofyQfvGsbv4jFTbgXtrsoUXrcOYErTZF15XzMknLN9e7vT-4SEO3ZYlKwvz2Hl8vyR2mSwOnHWE20wqmkF47x92Ce8I~-~DEFhzrYIRTNNyUayK~U4~DeWOIJDJCDxfT-TTxoI5nDCQtk0gsXdA96dKuydTR6rlpbzHEAKX4W5HnC2CsLqPzMiPr-Eipa8tkkIVZcNwOniKPjqJtHjtV74ufqQnB5mASIYF5WH0yfV4PitDtzku-bRpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education was told April 1 that the district faces a $7,700,000 budget gap for the 2024–25 school year and is weighing a mix of state aid, a possible short-term borrowing plan and outstanding city tax payments to close it.

Acting Superintendent Veronica Smith and Jose (the district's assistant superintendent for business) told the Budget & Finance Committee that projected expenditures for 2024–25 are about $280,000,000 against anticipated revenue of $273,000,000, creating the $7.7 million shortfall. Committee members said the district has requested additional state aid and sent a memo to the state education department and local legislators advocating for the funding.

Committee members described three primary paths to resolve the shortfall: (1) additional state aid that requires legislative approval, (2) the city completing payments owed to the district for pre-2020 taxes, and (3) issuance of a short-term budget note that would be repaid over roughly two years if necessary. Jose said the district could pursue a budget note if other options did not materialize.

Why it matters: trustees were told that the city's outstanding payments could eliminate the gap. Officials said the city is scheduled to make a series of payments of $450,000 through September 2025 under an existing agreement; the city also told the district it expects to owe about $7.7 million by June 2025 for taxes predating 2020 and for 2020–21 and 2021–22. Board members said they will meet with the city this week or next to discuss a payment agreement.

The committee outlined the budget timeline: Jose will present the proposed 2025–26 budget on April 9 at a special board meeting; the board is expected to adopt the 2025–26 budget on April 22; a public budget hearing is scheduled for May 6 and the annual budget vote and school board election is set for May 20. Officials said the proposed 2025–26 budget may combine additional state aid, a modest tax increase, a new payment agreement with the city and internal cost-saving measures.

Questions from trustees focused on the reliability and timing of the city payments and on contingency plans if state aid is not approved. Jose said the district has implemented a budget freeze earlier in the year and runs monthly cash-flow and fund-balance projections; the budget note option would allow the district to bridge the current year and be repaid in roughly two years if other revenue sources do not come through.

Board members said they will continue advocacy with state officials and scheduled a follow-up meeting with the city to seek clarity on the amount and timing of the outstanding payments. No formal board action to adopt a balanced budget for 2024–25 was taken at the April 1 meeting; the items described were committee reports and planning steps.","Board members and staff told trustees the district faces a $7.7 million shortfall for the 2024–25 year and outlined options including pending city payments, requests for additional state aid and a short-term budget note to cover the gap.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: board approves contracts, hires, fund transfers and project authorizations; one major contract tabled

Board highlights greenhouse, culinary lab and sensory rooms as student enrichment; seeks grants and partnerships

Retired educator says lunch monitors' behavior amounted to "verbal abuse"; board told district acknowledges the problem

Board hears plan to close $7.7 million budget gap; city payments, state aid, and a short-term note discussed