School board approves community engagement services after resident urges narrower scope and lower cost

On July 14, 2025, the Board of Education voted 7-0 to approve a community engagement project services agreement after a public commenter urged the district to narrow the work and reduce expenses. Mike Tennis, a Sleepy Hollow resident, spoke during the public participation period and raised questions about the proposed spending and the project’s connection to a possible bond referendum.

Tennis urged caution and a narrower scope. “The committee engagement project proposes spending $89,500 for professional services and another $100,000 for expenses,” he told the board, adding that the expenses listed included “$67,500 for direct mailings, $23,600 for text messaging and over $10,000 for advertising and travel.” He also said the work could be used to support a bond referendum…