State monitor for MVCSD presents proposed academic and financial improvement plan

The state monitor for the Mount Vernon City School District, Dr. Kimberly Young Wilkins, stood in front of community members and administrators to present a proposed academic improvement and financial plan at the Education Center on Tuesday, November 18. 

Dr. Young Wilkins began her presentation by discussing the statutory requirements for the evening, which outline how the board hears input from the community on the proposed plans.

Before presenting her key findings, Dr. Young Wilkins explained the three-pronged approach she used for her data collection. It included purposeful sampling through focus groups and interviews, examining artifacts related to the district businesses and actively participating in the daily work and activities of central office staff. 

“Those individual conversations in focus groups and community groups are going to be ongoing the entire time that I'm here,” she said. “You have to get the voice of the community. So more is coming. But there's probably over 100 interviews that have been done so far in the three and a half months I’ve been here.” 

In regards to the academic improvement plan, Dr. Young Wilkins found inconsistencies in several different areas, including special education, where there is an inconsistent usage of Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and lack of placement of students with disabilities in the least restrictive setting. 

The state monitor noted that the special education program, which serves 20% of district enrollment, also faces issues in regards to providing physical therapy and occupational therapy services for the hearing and/or visually impaired. 

Dr. Young Wilkins shared that the district faces issues with services for English language learners (ELL), with no director for services overseeing the department and a lack of certified bilingual, English as a New Language and English for Speakers of Other Languages teachers.

She reported that the district lacks an up-to-date strategic plan, has no organizational chart and is inconsistent in implementing the Code of Conduct. All of this is essential to clearly setting district goals and articulating the district’s vision for how they will improve student learning. 

Dr. Young Wilkins said there have been instances of Board of Education trustees not adhering to board policies governing communication, which has created mistrust and lack of respect among board trustees and with the superintendent. 

She also noted that departments within the district often operate in isolation from one another, causing a huge lack of communication between academic and operational areas. This causes a decline in prioritizing student achievement and academic success. 

“District leadership focuses on their specific area of administration, which has led to siloing of departments, so very isolated. There's a lack of communication among academic and operational areas, leading to massive miscommunication and a lack of continuity of practices, procedures and cohesiveness,” Dr. Young Wilkins said. 

Moving forward to her key findings for the financial plan, Dr. Young Wilkins identified revelations regarding the current budget, and how it does not align with the district’s long-term operating plan or a capital plan. 

Furthermore, she addressed that the budget does not appear to align with the district’s stated academic or social/emotional needs, and does not appear to account for year-to-year enrollment fluctuations for long- or short-term planning for buildings, grounds, and facilities maintenance, repair, and construction. She also said there is no evidence of a calendar of revenues and expenditures, regular cash flow analysis, or long-term plan for facility maintenance. 

The state monitor shared that for the 2024-2025 school year, an independent audit revealed that the district relied on a part-time outside consulting firm to oversee accounting functions, as the position of treasurer has not yet been filled. Her report found a lack of staff and segregation of deputies in the Payroll Department, which negatively affects the payroll function and increases the risk of potential errors. 

Dr. Young Wilkins noted that there is no technology plan that is connected to instructional practices, student learning, data-driven instruction and professional development. Staff and parents have reported that the district website is not user-friendly; much of the information on the website is outdated and is difficult to use. 

Next steps for the state monitor include updating the drafted plan, which can be viewed here, by December 1 for the New York State Commissioner of Education to review and approve.

The presentation concluded with community members having the opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns with the state monitor and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Demario Strickland. Additional questions and comments can be submitted to kyoungwilkins@mtvernoncsd.org.