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Residents and a teacher pressed trustees on pests, broken promises and safety during public comment
Summary
Three public commenters — former trustee Cherry Burns, parent Sharon Thurman and teacher Zachary Mullenberry — urged immediate action on developer accountability, clearer public communication and specific fixes at school sites; one commenter warned trustees of recall efforts if problems persist.
Public comment opened the meeting and included multiple speakers who described ongoing facility problems and urged the board to act.
Former trustee Cherry Burns told the board "You need to engage now" on the Upper West Side and warned that developers' promises to build schools are often vague; she urged penalties for noncompliance and said courts can take years. Sachiko Kanatsu described persistent rodent and flea problems at schools, said the community has judged some trustees "failed," and warned the district she will pursue recall actions if officials do not respond. Teacher Zachary Mullenberry described unfulfilled promises at his school — a playground grass area out of use all year, painted half‑courts with no hoops and disused tetherball poles posing safety hazards — and invited trustees to tour the site.
Board members acknowledged the comments and said staff will factor them into follow‑up planning, including surveying families and preparing more concise communications for parents about future facility options.
