Board approves grant director role amid trustee concerns over process and salary

Mount Vernon — Trustees voted to authorize an employment agreement for Lauren McCoy to serve as executive director of strategic development, a Title-funded position responsible for grants and related portfolios.

Trustee discussion centered on process and pay. Trustee Middleton said she had not seen an introduction or had time to review the candidate, and expressed concern about repeatedly approving hires on short notice. Trustee Peterson said the salary "is too high for me." Several trustees defended the need for the role after auditors identified grants as a high-risk area.

Dr. Strickland said the position would strengthen grant management and was paid from Title funds; he told trustees the candidate had been through a three‑pronged interview process and that the state monitor had been informed. State monitor Dr. Kimberly Young Wilkins said dedicated grant and Medicaid positions will likely generate revenue that exceeds their cost: "Her salary will be probably paid over 5 times over within the first year just with the grama so she's gonna be able to come in," Wilkins said.

Why it matters: Trustees framed the hire as part of fiscal recovery—bringing in staff who can identify and administer grants and Medicaid billing properly, but several said improved prior communication and clearer search/hiring procedures are needed for transparency.

Board action: The motion to authorize the employment agreement passed; multiple trustees abstained from the final vote (transcript records abstentions but does not list a full roll-call tally). Trustees asked for better pre-meeting communications and recommended sharing candidate materials in advance in future hiring actions.