[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6241561,"mediaKeyId","3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5","parentId",3255442,"title","Board authorizes Mount Vernon PTA to host candidate forum at Graham School; two trustees abstain","audioSeconds",261,"startMs",6442000,"endMs",6703000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5&start=6442&end=6703","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5/thumbnail_6442000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241561/New-York/Board-authorizes-Mount-Vernon-PTA-to-host-candidate-forum-at-Graham-School-two-trustees-abstain","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241561-7257dd2552db77a377bc69ec0cce5c6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771040934&Signature=Nto2YJCjG2vkh9ftU1PrKhtApE44mW7Mokm1o-WcCUUEd4YQQyHnAB-ZeitdMfe0zP2QnUBd7vwQDePchNN-dmi6Rzub6p1gB-g0e62UTEBHubCbO0F3DNYzryOAUR~zzIlJ2Y6DuCdfd6iEk~kWfD47B38YtZjouctl2DHv~OsL1wnjfrWAVek88sIcRHQ0KqwZwrH3ABh63AcbjnY~mwPEl2Jy~WduoOFL~bNTaol6KTzcPfLXRssklcvQBqzEk5nHyNdCDNdQKY-CL3riOvT2WoKZyDm9rw56NvKPW4KNo4OcwWq8qGUdmaa0A~47d4pf9R-HJBaueEfxhOHkBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-09T19:39:48Z","article","The Mount Vernon Board of Education on May 6 authorized the Mount Vernon PTA Council to use Graham School for a school-board candidate forum ahead of the district election.

Legal counsel advised trustees that candidate forums fall under the district’s community‑relations policy because they are political events and therefore require explicit board authorization. As counsel explained, the relevant policy language covers \"political meetings or rallies unless specifically authorized by the board of education.\"

Trustees voted on the request. Trustee Saunders and Trustee Kerwin abstained, citing a conflict of interest; the roll call showed five yes votes from Trustees White, Middleton, Mitchell, Maribel and McDonough. Board members discussed whether additional buildings might be requested but noted there were no other forum requests scheduled before the election.

Discussion versus decision: the board approved a single facility use request for the PTA to hold a candidate forum. The approval does not constitute an endorsement; the PTA described the event as a nonpartisan voter‑education activity.

Ending: The PTA forum at Graham School was authorized; trustees and legal counsel emphasized that future political use requests would require separate board approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mount Vernon Board of Education Regular Meeting 050625","oneSentenceSummary","The board voted to allow the Mount Vernon PTA Council to use Graham School for a school-board candidate forum before the election; legal counsel said such political gatherings require board authorization and two trustees abstained because of conflicts.","taxTitle","MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",38455,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6241565,"Parents and alumni decry instability for Rebecca Turner alternative program as district reorganizes",0,2783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5&start=2783&end=2783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5/thumbnail_2783000.jpg","/articles/6241565/New-York/Parents-and-alumni-decry-instability-for-Rebecca-Turner-alternative-program-as-district-reorganizes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241565-de2e5963ea1f822c3c6dc64ce451cdc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771040934&Signature=C98arA5zyCqRGh8DNq2O-~ZQuFJ3js~q7NXWT~3xQWUzmNGRSnQ1Olo4br45dpJH3xDOo~DatvodiF7Hu~edh8X9eb25AWTN6PJvA7Up~nZqHzZAEc6Iq-dH2X4v-9c122HzTWcqNlz1CGJms6r1OHPHHb0DB4ZF2YyAZqcersammqbZmMHWLMO-v6rKOwMKw5CujXVq~xqIMRj-iR5TB1O4p9ahRnGWu10PqDeTKx3cVhCJ28BRKl7ezniSvY~wj7HW-G76FUayqNw7l0XNlWcEfMVUIaZWDSd2Ml5gO3uQB-Ii8ZUKz1EJhYyGeVnKJpskkhwE1fi8fgEnZe1oKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several speakers at the May 6 meeting urged the board to preserve stability for the Rebecca Turner alternative program and criticized repeated moves and name changes as harmful to students.

\"They would be stripped of their building and rightful name to be shuffled around again,\" former student and community member Antoinette King said, describing the program’s multiple relocations and renamings. King said students who do not graduate will face added risk if they are moved back into buildings that previously rejected them.

Lifelong Mount Vernon resident Cynthia Crenshaw raised personnel and staffing concerns at Rebecca Turner and other district schools, saying parts of the building had not had teachers in key subjects. \"The students at Rebecca Turner, the science region, they have not had a teacher for 1 year,\" Crenshaw said, adding that some students might lack teachers for core courses and asking whether those students would be exempt from assessments.

Speakers traced Rebecca Turner’s history — including previous names such as Mandela Zollicoffer and moves between STEAM and Mount Vernon High School — and urged the board to provide a permanent facility and consistent leadership for the program. \"If you want children to change, then you guys are gonna have to change how you guys are treating them,\" Antoinette King said.

Discussion versus decision: these were public comments and calls to action; the board did not announce a new site or change for Rebecca Turner at the May 6 meeting. Trustees and staff heard the concerns but no formal resolution addressing these requests was adopted at that session.

Ending: Speakers asked the board to prioritize a stable facility, consistent staffing and programs tailored to the students served by Rebecca Turner; trustees did not make a formal decision on those requests at the meeting.","Speakers at the Mount Vernon board meeting said the Rebecca Turner alternative program has been repeatedly moved and renamed and urged the board to provide a permanent home and stability; speakers also raised claims about staffing shortages and questioned impacts on students remaining in the program.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6241570,"Civil service officials say they were left out of early layoff talks; ask district for patience as reviews continue",247,789000,1036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5&start=789&end=1036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5/thumbnail_789000.jpg","/articles/6241570/New-York/Civil-service-officials-say-they-were-left-out-of-early-layoff-talks-ask-district-for-patience-as-reviews-continue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241570-249f5d7f4ec27ecedc2bf016b6ec0c19/orig.mp4?Expires=1771040934&Signature=hY-TyOifd6BxZbjS4QGFpShKGeH2UKrNzcjshRdPsZjX7SXjUZgFIzNbXP9dLWq4aRJac6Blg-8WnZGUf1DcmxBkVTEs7H4nmiWZlfw5R~~-X5wvyEsY1j91cps6CFjWhiL4oV5X6rEQHC7dOofXpcSFUMjyYs8mBuLAggSulQjOPII8NFoYuaa7I3xaeq90~NN2W4n3U1SaEFtVgeNQONxYcoUPaxdQgbTexN88zT7XRGAh1CQz0mjkzVENTJyeABx6D0r4zdYNGTAvVJPolT9RRkKokHj2zSSkXcEjt42x7roJYfS~Y6QZyiRzK6LRbN7xI8BYar6A8GqfNUzRLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative of the Westchester civil service office told the Mount Vernon board on May 6 that civil service had not been consulted early enough in the district’s layoff planning and that the office must complete its review before individuals are notified.

\"Civil service should have been the first and foremost entity to be included in school layoffs. And I do have a handout for all of the board trustees to read and to see that it is written law,\" Pat Rosamanda, civil service administrator for the City of Mount Vernon, told trustees. Rosamanda said the civil service office first learned of the layoff plan \"by accident\" via calls from employees and outside individuals and that civil service was sent a list from HR on April 17.

Rosamanda said a joint meeting was held April 24 that included the HR department, CSEA union representatives, Acting Superintendent Dr. Smith and the district's counsel, and that civil service provided written citations from civil service law at that meeting. The administrator said civil service has the list of affected employees and is reviewing it for accuracy; she asked trustees for patience to allow civil service to complete its due diligence.

At the May 6 meeting trustees raised questions about where savings should be sought and whether earlier administrative abolishments had already reduced top‑level positions. Trustees also asked for confirmation that layoffs were being handled according to civil service rules and stressed the importance of avoiding litigation and ensuring seniority rules were honored.

Discussion versus decision: civil service described its review role and asked the board not to release individual layoff lists before civil service completes its checks; the board continued to pass routine HR resolutions at the meeting, but no final layoff notices were announced in public session.

Ending: Civil service told the board the list of employees subject to proposed layoff is in its office for accuracy review, and Rosamanda asked trustees and district administrators to allow the office time to complete its statutory responsibilities before the district issues final notices.","A Mount Vernon civil service administrator told the board civil service was not included in early layoff discussions and that the agency is conducting a review of the district's layoff list; trustees were urged to allow civil service time to complete accuracy checks before final notices are issued.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6241574,"Mount Vernon trustees push for new food‑service bidding after student complaints about lunches",543,3837000,4380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5&start=3837&end=4380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5/thumbnail_3837000.jpg","/articles/6241574/New-York/Mount-Vernon-trustees-push-for-new-foodservice-bidding-after-student-complaints-about-lunches","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241574-53fdda3be82c797c455108a21eca61ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771040934&Signature=X4VKMWRuYd8vDbpOVLa-zzZIvgnZ7Q1Jj8pyRZRm2NcHeALCo6cIsWQTK8hr2UcoRJNTTKR1ZSD7zmWEj9P1i5sj3anAoZ-Z27PRu2j8-sJWe~ldul6m3qCXRtSlPlK0Y-yPb~zSmagXUZBVcHMwymXGnlAWCpl-6Stqs3Qcz~0OF-jxjuzpCAmOzIRQJQL1Wk7u12v6eCiU7MqBi2YSCw-taTgYHQ4wYMxgCd5tlET7ITS6OmKokymsUCfxfLVsyN85oJ4n4diqJJc7krTPOssFDkUMEAtLKd-F-qO-qLCt7ftTdVgGkAb4heT6MymzWkzKNB62vFAmf~iu0kIbmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members and parents used the May 6 meeting to raise ongoing complaints about school lunches served under the district’s contract with Aramark and to press the district to speed up a re-solicitation of food-service vendors.

\"The lunch is super nasty, and we, the student, call it trash food,\" a letter from a Grimes School student read aloud by Trustee Mitchell as evidence of pervasive dissatisfaction. Another student letter read: \"School breakfast is good... I dislike their yogurts. They taste bland.\" The trustee said she collected 63 letters from students across grades and buildings describing inconsistent breakfasts and lunches.

Those public comments followed committee discussion and a staff update. A district staff member who led the food-service procurement review said the district rewrote 37 pages of the Aramark contract and submitted the material changes to the state. \"We submitted that to the state last Friday,\" the staff member told the board, and the state emailed back Monday with \"full approval of all the material changes to the contract,\" the speaker said.

The district outlined a timeline for replacing or re‑contracting food services: publish the RFP on May 12, conduct vendor tours and Q&A on May 16, open bids on May 28, and aim to award a new vendor at the June 3 board meeting. The staff member said the RFP revisions cover portion sizes, meal quality, oversight, operations and financial protections for the district.

Discussion versus decision: trustees did not immediately terminate the Aramark contract at the May 6 meeting but directed staff to publish the revised RFP and to solicit bids. The board’s objective was to secure a vendor with stricter quality and oversight standards and to present an award for vote at the June 3 meeting.

Trustees also asked that food-service workers and family representatives be included in meetings with vendors and recommended creating a standing wellness committee to oversee food quality going forward. \"We should really build a true, food service committee, a wellness committee,\" a trustee said, proposing that vendor representatives, staff and trustees sit together to monitor meals.

Ending: The district’s procurement timeline made clear next steps: RFP publication on May 12, vendor tours May 16, bid opening May 28 and a target vendor award at the June 3 board meeting. Parents and trustees said they will continue to press for on-site inspections and for inclusion of frontline food-service staff in meetings with bidders.","Trustees and parents raised widespread concerns about Aramark-run school meals; district officials reworked the food-service RFP, said they submitted contract changes to the state with approval, and set a May 12 RFP publication and a June 3 goal to award a new vendor.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6241578,"Mount Vernon parents press board for clearer timeline after school closures; state review cited",4101,1053000,5154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5&start=1053&end=5154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255442-66f985a7b691b5ffcf635c11d9f2f9f5/thumbnail_1053000.jpg","/articles/6241578/New-York/Mount-Vernon-parents-press-board-for-clearer-timeline-after-school-closures-state-review-cited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241578-02c57cc958ccfc0fd12762a6e025277e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771040934&Signature=HOeOQ9ZXxKg-Y3AYmJUl1-Gzd~eg7OCIOuqGejFir5OsJb3uieP3sda3xaTT6J4cif1FxegTCogmzvwJMUx6CP0hdbNtADXc68YbcazblWwfb6qV0KZXLAdgAS8FEaoaafnpxyuqL7dY6RIvohYQ5ZNE5RR0EnfrkeHgWJSqCMRukUARRyEYcAbLBieg50EhvqKjJdKXVctkxFOG9Jw57ZEz6B-C7JlupU~01YygapY6MTUUX5xu98aMmDp~eRJ~Jd59~FHyaCSmxFVeMQHI9Mi4LhwSeiiKEQ~t8D0px0F6YLkdzFZDFinX9PHAQCv3V9w6yhsp5ReFposaw6othQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents and community members at the Mount Vernon City School District board meeting on May 6 pressed trustees for clearer, earlier notice about school closures and where students will be assigned for the coming year.

\"It is the May. And prior to the news story that came out last week from News 12, we had not received an update about when families will know,\" parent Ariana Aguilar told the board, asking for specific dates and in-person opportunities for families to visit receiving schools. \"Families would also like an opportunity to have an open house or to visit the school prior to the first day of school in order to help with the emotional impact that these closures will have for our children.\"

The concern recurred throughout the public comment period: parents said many families — including non–English speakers and those without cable news subscriptions — learned about the reorganization from media rather than direct district outreach. \"We had not received an update,\" Maria Valdovinos said, asking the district to post a simple, grade-by-grade placement map on the district website so families can quickly see where a child in a given grade will attend next year.

Why it matters: parents said the lack of timely, clear notice could leave families with too little time to address transportation or sibling-placement concerns and could increase the emotional disruption for students being moved into unfamiliar buildings.

District officials and trustees responded with a mix of commitments and process explanations. A district staff member told the board the district submitted required materials to the state’s reviewers and that some paperwork had to be in the state portal by a March 1 deadline. \"They require it by March 1 that we have the documentation,\" the staff member told trustees, describing enrollment counts and configuration details the state requested for each school affected by the reorganization. The speaker added that the state reviews the submission to ensure it \"doesn't violate any educational laws\" but does not issue a separate approval letter once the board has voted.

On timing for family notification, trustees and staff said the district plans to provide placement notices by June and to coordinate in-person school tours. \"We plan on sharing with each parent where their children would go,\" a staff member said, noting tours and school visits were being scheduled and that building principals would help set times for visits.

Discussion versus decision: the board did not reverse prior votes on closures during the May 6 meeting. Trustees and district staff said the closures had been approved previously and that the state review was a procedural step after that approval; board members told the public they would seek to make the placement and visitation details available as soon as possible.

Public questions and demands for documents continued through the meeting: trustees agreed to request the copies of the forms submitted to the state so the board itself can review what was filed. A staff member said the state pulls submitted forms from the district portal for review and that the district would ask the state to re-release the submitted materials to the board for transparency.

What remains unresolved: parents want a simple, grade-by-grade placement table posted on the district website; they want confirmation that translations and outreach to non–English speakers will accompany any notices; and several parents pressed for a clearer schedule for when families and staff will receive individual placement letters.

Ending: Trustees and staff said they would follow up with the state about releasing the submitted documentation to the board and would post placement and tour information on the district website as it becomes available. Families at the meeting urged the district to prioritize direct, multilingual communication so parents and students have time to prepare for the fall transition.","Parents at the Mount Vernon City School District board meeting pressed trustees for clearer timelines and direct notices about school closures and student reassignments; district staff said a submission to the state was required by March 1 and that families should get placement notices by June.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board authorizes Mount Vernon PTA to host candidate forum at Graham School; two trustees abstain

Parents and alumni decry instability for Rebecca Turner alternative program as district reorganizes

Civil service officials say they were left out of early layoff talks; ask district for patience as reviews continue

Mount Vernon trustees push for new food‑service bidding after student complaints about lunches

Mount Vernon parents press board for clearer timeline after school closures; state review cited