From left Jamestown Public Schools Board President Paul Abbott and Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker conduct business Tuesday. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

M.J. Fletcher Elementary School will receive a playground upgrade.

The Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education approved the measure Tuesday. The board also received a negative declaration for the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act concerning the project. The negative SEQRA declaration means the state found no environmental problems with the school, located at 301 Cole Ave.

According to the declaration, the upgrade will include new equipment and wood chips surface, and possibly a small sidewalk extension, and building upgrades such as floors and/or doors at the building.

“The Fletcher playground is number one on our list for overhaul and updates, and we have a limited amount of money,” Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said.

He added that the capital outlay for the playground upgrade is $100,000. The project must be completed by June 30, 2025.

“Playgrounds, believe it or not, are incredibly expensive,” Whitaker noted. “First is the Fletcher playground. Every single year, we’ll go down our list and address either components or the entire piece of the playground at each school.”

The board also heard concerns from the African American Community regarding the recent resignation of Tamu Graham-Reinhardt, JPS Coordinator of Family and Community Engagement and Inclusivity.

The Rev. Chloe Smith spoke on behalf of several community members who were in attendance.

“I am both alarmed and blindsided and saddened by the resignation of Tamu Reinhardt,” Smith said.

Smith stated that Reinhardt was recruited by Whitaker in 2021 to work for the district. In July 2023, she became the inclusivity coordinator.

Smith also contends that Reinhardt’s resignation may have been forced.

Smith presented three questions to the board: Was she ever given a performance review? Was she ever given any progressive discipline? Will she be able to work in the school district in a different capacity?

“I ask these questions, and we ask these questions because Mrs. Reinhart has been instrumental in facilitating communication and developing a relationship between our African American community group, our African American community as a whole, and the Jamestown public school administration and staff,” Smith said. “I have also personally witnessed her cultivation of relationships between parents and students, with teachers, principals and staff on the elementary, middle and high school level.”

Smith said the African-American Community respects her expertise and her ability to manage complex systems.

“We had a liaison. We had a person who spoke on our behalf, and it was Mrs. Reinhart, so we would like to know how we are going to continue to move forward as a community,” Smith said.

Board President Paul Abbott said the district is very restricted on what it can share with the public regarding personnel issues.

“I can tell you that we as a board, and I know Dr. Whitaker espouses many of the thoughts that you have, and I agree with you wholeheartedly that every community needs to feel they have a voice in our district, that they are represented, so we will continue our commitment to that,” Abbott said.

Whitaker said the inclusivity coordinator position has not been eliminated, but could not comment any further about the situation. Whitaker said he will be reaching out to some of the people who were in attendance.