Residents urge better special-needs facilities, question Parker school closure and preservation of historic items

Cynthia Crenshaw and other residents told the Mount Vernon Board of Education on Sept. 30 they are concerned about building conditions and the district’s treatment of students with disabilities. "You should have locks on all the doors that has host autistic kids," Crenshaw said, and she asked the district to provide a separate, secure changing room rather than individual bathroom stalls for students who need assistance.

Crenshaw also raised issues about teacher quality and working conditions, citing parking shortages and dilapidated staff spaces at one building she called "R.A.T." (an older facility), and asked the board to survey staff about conditions. She questioned why Parker School was closed and said rumors persist that it might be leased or purchased by a private entity named Armani; Crenshaw said retaining a historic Black school building matters to the community and asked the board to address the issue publicly.

Crenshaw asked whether charter schools admitting more special-needs students would divert resources from the public schools, saying, "Our tax dollars should go to the public schools." She also asked about the status of a historic picture and the school bell; board leadership responded later in the meeting that the picture and bell matter had been discussed in recent executive sessions and that a decision was approaching.

Crenshaw concluded her remarks by circulating a petition to rename Sixth Avenue School to "Cecil H. Parker Way."

Board President responded after public comment that the picture and bell are under active discussion and "we are very close to making the decision," and that community members would be notified when the board finalizes plans.

These public comments were made during the district’s public comment period; speakers framed building-condition problems as health, safety and equity concerns and requested specific follow-up and clearer communication from district staff.