Parents, NAACP and residents fault Mount Vernon board over school closures, transparency and conduct

Mount Vernon — Dozens of parents, community members and NAACP representatives used the public comment period at the Mount Vernon Board of Education meeting on Jan. 21 to press trustees for more transparency and community engagement after the district announced the closure of three schools.

Speakers pressed the board to explain how closures were decided and to restore trust. Janine Fertile, who identified herself as a parent of three district students, urged trustees to “take a step back and listen and reevaluate how it engages and treat its community.”

Why it matters: The board’s reorganization and school closures affect student placements, family routines and perceptions of district governance. Several speakers tied concerns about process and communication to broader distrust about district budgeting and accountability.

Parents and community members described missed outreach and breakdowns in communication. Jonathan Booker, a parent who opened his remarks quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., told trustees the closure vote was “messy and disrespectful to those it affects the most.”

Former and current PTA leaders and long-time volunteers also spoke. Cynthia Crenshaw said the board’s conduct at a recent meeting was a “total disgrace” and accused trustees of a lack of respect for the public. Erica Peterson, a Mount Vernon resident and parent, criticized campaign promises about taxes and fiscal responsibility and called some trustees “snake oil salesmen” for promises she said led to diminished services and depleted fund balance.

Representatives of the Mount Vernon branch of the NAACP also addressed the board. Bridal L. Crump read a letter alleging disruptive behavior by elected officials at an NAACP meeting and called for trustees to “reflect on how trustees engage community meetings.” Kathy Brewington, representing the local NAACP chapter, disputed claims of voting irregularities at the chapter’s meetings and urged people to join and participate in NAACP processes.

Board response and context: Board members repeatedly reminded speakers to avoid naming private individuals during public comment and said some matters must be pursued through administrative channels. At the end of the public comment period, trustees moved on to the superintendent’s report and agenda items.

What followed: Several speakers requested follow-up, and trustees acknowledged they would address specific items in later parts of the meeting or via email. The public comment segment closed before the agenda’s committee reports and resolutions.

Ending: The board did not take immediate action during public comment. Many speakers asked for further engagement, records and explanations; trustees said some follow-up would occur through staff reports and later agenda items.