Mount Vernon To Appeal Decision On Charter School

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. – The Mount Vernon City School District will appeal to the New York State Education Department and the New York Board of Regents for approving in May a “fiscally irresponsible” application of the Amani Charter School of Mount Vernon.

Interim Superintendent Judith Johnson and Board of Education President Frances Wynn said an an appeal of the ruling was filed because, the district said, the New York State Supreme Court of Albany County vacated prior approvals of an application for the charter school. The school district said it was due to the failure of the Board of Regents, upon recommendation from the state’s Department of Education, which “grossly overestimated” its 2012-13 budget by $4 million.

“Amani’s subsequent exponentially incorrect projection over the course of its five-year increasing-census charter school contract would render the district insolvent by the cost for each child that is above the total census of the school district since its inception,” Johnson said. “The city of Mount Vernon is rated the 46th out of 46 school districts in ability to pay. It is the poorest school district in the richest county in the state of New York.”

A press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the district offices, 165 N. Columbus Ave.

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