Trustees of the Mount Vernon City School District spent a large portion of their Jan. 7 meeting debating how the district has conducted outreach about proposed school restructuring and airing complaints about food-service operations, while also voting on a set of human-resources, budget and policy items.

The board approved a number of personnel and budget motions and held first readings of policy changes, but it rejected one contested human-resources resolution concerning substitute pay rates after a lengthy discussion and a recorded vote.

Trustees and members of the public criticized how several school-level meetings about possible school reorganizations were conducted. Several trustees and community speakers said Zoom meetings for Parker and other schools were restricted to parents and staff, leaving some board members, parents and community members waiting in virtual lobbies or blocked from joining. Acting Superintendent K. Veronica Smith said principals set the meetings’ formats and that she participated in the sessions; she said the district has also held community-wide meetings and would continue outreach.

Separately, a trustee presented the results of a student survey about meals and nutrition (the presenter identified a mixture of middle- and high-school respondents). The survey — with 85 responses from eight schools and concentrated among middle-school students — reported that 40% said they ate breakfast three to five days a week, about 25% reported breakfast one to two days, and the majority of respondents said they frequently took only some of the food offered at meals. Respondents reported not feeling full after lunch and difficulties obtaining a second meal. Trustees said the responses reflected long-standing concerns about food services and asked that the wellness committee and administration address distribution, portion sizes and staff training.

After public and trustee discussion the board moved through the agenda. Several motions passed by voice vote, including authorization to hire additional staff for K–8 after-school programs and expansions of Smart Scholars; continuation of district Title I schoolwide plans; and several HR and pupil‑personnel items. The meeting also included approval of general fund transfers and standard tax-settlement payments ordered by the courts.

One human-resources item drew concentrated debate: resolution 5.2 (classified HR/substitute compensation). Trustees questioned whether higher daily rates proposed for some substitutes were appropriate and whether the staff would be placed in their certified instructional areas — the condition cited when the board approved higher rates earlier in the year. The board briefly suspended action and then voted on the resolution; after a roll-call poll the motion failed.

The board concluded the public portion of its meeting with first readings of two policy amendments — a parent and family engagement policy (Title I) and an amendment to the code of conduct on student searches — and then voted to enter executive session.

Votes at a glance

- HR Resolution 5.1 (certified personnel actions): motion carried (vote recorded as carried).
- HR Resolution 5.2 (classified personnel / substitute pay timetable): motion failed after roll-call poll and abstentions.
- HR Resolution 5.3 (leave of absence requests): motion carried.
- 6.1 Authorization to hire additional staff for K–8 after-school programs (2024–25): motion carried.
- 6.2 Authorization to hire additional staff for the Smart Scholars program (2024–25): motion carried.
- 6.3 Continue district Title I schoolwide committees (2024–25): motion carried.
- 7.1 Approval of pupil personnel services memorandum No. 12 (Jan. 7, 2025): motion carried.
- 8.1 Approve general fund transfers and purchase-order increases (Jan. 7, 2025): motion carried (trustees asked for backup on specific transfers).
- 8.2 Approve settlement of tax proceedings (multiple properties): motion carried.
- 9.1 Approval to opt out of the New York regionalization plan: motion carried.
- 9.2 First reading: revision of policy 3170 (parent involvement): first reading held.
- 9.3 First reading: amendment to code of conduct (student searches and interrogations): first reading held.
- Motion to enter executive session: motion carried.

What trustees said and asked

Trustees repeatedly pressed administration for clearer communications about meeting schedules, interpretation services at school meetings and for more accessible public forums. Several trustees requested additional Parker School meetings offered at widely accessible times with interpreters present. Board members also pressed administration for documentation related to special-education pre‑K funding (federal 611/619 flow-through funds) and for accounting showing how those funds and related school-level supply monies are tracked.

Trustees asked finance staff for backup documentation on several general‑fund transfers; the board chair and CFO said invoices and supporting paperwork for transfers (for example, county sewer payments and outside legal fees) would be appended and provided upon request.

Next steps and administration responses

The superintendent said she would forward a year‑long calendar of presentations to trustees and asked staff to provide requested documentation on funding for special‑education pre‑K programs, substitute pay assignments and general‑fund transfers. Trustees asked the administration and wellness committee to prioritize food-service follow-ups and to convene additional public meetings in impacted schools before finalizing restructuring decisions.