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Residents raise concerns about artifacts, air conditioning and security at closed Mount Vernon schools
Summary
Residents at the July 29 board meeting raised alarms about missing or unsecured historic items, inactive cameras, copper theft and nonworking air-conditioning units in several closed Mount Vernon school buildings.
Residents at the July 29 Mount Vernon Board of Education meeting raised multiple concerns about closed school buildings, including the security of historic items, missing copper, nonworking cameras and broken air conditioning units.
Mark Stuckey, who identified himself as a Mount Vernon resident and local whistleblower, said three air-conditioning units at Nelson Mandela (referred to in his remarks as “Mandela”) remain inoperable and asked why the district had not moved more quickly to repair or reassign equipment after a recent $20 million budget cycle. He urged Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland to oversee follow-up on building closures and to ensure items taken from closed buildings are accounted for.
Cynthia Crenshaw said she had observed security cameras turned off at some closed buildings and reported that a historic school bell and a portrait associated with C.J.H. Parker had been moved from their previous locations. She said the bell and portrait are part of Mount Vernon’s local history and asked how the district would determine their value and secure them.
Board President Maribel told speakers that assets of historical value must be discussed in executive session and that the board had referred the matter to the superintendent for follow up. The board noted it would not comment publicly on asset valuations until the executive-session review was complete.
State monitor Dr. Kimberly Young Wilkins, who attended the meeting, told the public she has inspected 11 of the district’s 16 schools and will complete visits to the remaining buildings this week; she said she had not yet inspected the three closed buildings referenced by commenters. Trustees and staff said the superintendent’s office will follow up and report back to the board.
No formal action to change building status, relocate artifacts publicly or alter security procedures was taken during the July 29 meeting; the board recorded that Mr. Stuckey’s material had been referred to the superintendent and that items asserted to have historic value would be discussed in executive session.
Ending note: community members requested transparent follow-up on artifact custody and security at closed facilities; the superintendent and state monitor said they would inspect the remaining sites and report to the board.
