Public hearing on Amani Public Charter School expansion draws mixed testimony in Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon — On Feb. 4, 2025, supporters and opponents spoke at a public hearing on Amani Public Charter School’s proposal to expand from its current grades 5–8 to include kindergarten through fourth grade and to increase authorized enrollment. The hearing was held as part of the state review process for charter expansions.

The proposal drew sharply contrasting testimony. Jose Formoso, assistant superintendent for business for the Mount Vernon City School District, said the district is contending with long‑term enrollment decline and rising special‑education costs and warned that an expansion would divert public funds from district schools. “Charter schools are funded with public money, which means fewer resources for traditional public schools,” Formoso said, citing the district’s drop from about 8,190 students in 2014 to “slightly above 6,500” today and noting roughly 697 Mount Vernon students already attend charter schools in more than 20 programs in the area. He said special‑education costs have increased by more than $20,000,000 over the last five years and that the district recently approved closing three school buildings.

Supporters of the expansion, including Amani’s board chair and founders, said adding elementary grades would create a continuous K–8 pathway and expand access to a school they described as high performing. “The parents of this community have the right to choose the educational environment that is best for their children,” said Max Smith, board chair for Amani Public Charter School, urging the state to approve the expansion as a way to “ensure more children in this district have access to a high quality education.” Dr. Deborah Stern, Amani’s executive director and founder, said the school’s model combines “rigorous academics” and social‑emotional learning and that the organization has the leadership and finances to sustain growth.

Charlie Stearns, who said he and his wife Deborah founded Amani and that he holds no official position, also voiced support and said a facility financing plan and affordability analysis show the expanded school would be financially resilient.

Keith McCall, president of the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers, opposed the expansion, citing the district’s fiscal situation and the recent school closures. “Charters continue to drain school districts of much needed funds and resources that the students desperately need,” McCall said.

No final decision was made at the hearing. The presiding official said written comments would be accepted by email at rjames@mtvernoncsd.org through Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, and that those letters would be forwarded to the New York State Education Department as part of the review record. The state education department will notify parties when it reaches a decision.

The hearing included multiple supporters who recounted Amani’s history and claimed strong student outcomes, and district and union representatives who emphasized the district’s enrollment decline, rising special‑education costs, and recent building closures. Testimony included a BOCES long‑range planning study projection that forecast additional enrollment losses and cited a forecasted enrollment figure of 5,168, as reported in testimony.

The hearing record will be part of the state’s review of Amani’s application to add kindergarten through fourth grade and to increase authorized enrollment.