Board hears My Brother’s Keeper update; district accepts $25,000 Obama Foundation award
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Summary
The board heard a presentation on the MBK summer program, which served about 40 young men this year, and approved a consent-agenda resolution to accept a $25,000 grant from the Obama Foundation targeted to MBK milestone work. District staff said state grant funding remains pending.
The Ossining Union Free School District Board of Education on Nov. 19 heard a My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) program update and approved a consent-agenda resolution to accept a $25,000 award from the Obama Foundation.
Mister Nash, MBK advisor for Claremont and Roosevelt, presented highlights from MBK’s third summer camp and ongoing student leadership meetings. "MBK summer camp just completed its third year," he said, describing field trips, STEAM workshops, leadership training and a student vote to focus this year’s community outreach on volunteering at a local nursing home. Nash said 40 young men participated in this year’s MBK summer camp.
Board members asked about the program’s funding. A district presenter noted the program has previously been supported in part by a state family-and-community engagement grant that district officials expected to be released via an RFP but said no immediate state funding information was available. The presenter added that the district applied for and "did, receive, if you accept it, $25,000 from the Obama Foundation" to support MBK work tied to milestone 2 (students reading on grade level by third grade).
The grant acceptance appeared on the meeting’s consent agenda (item 4.1) and was approved by voice vote as part of the grouped consent items. District staff said the Obama Foundation funds are specifically targeted to MBK activities described in the presentation and that ongoing district support and other grants will be used to sustain program operations.
Board members praised the MBK leaders and the students who presented. The board took no separate action on MBK programming beyond accepting the grant and hearing the update; staff said they will continue pursuing additional grant opportunities and district funding to support MBK activities.