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Message from the Acting Superintendent of Schools

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Message from the Acting Superintendent of Schools

Greetings MVCSD Community, 

It is with extreme sadness that I announce that a tragedy has occurred in our community. Today, Thursday, March 9, 2023, a Mount Vernon STEAM Academy ninth-grade student who was not in attendance at school today was shot in the vicinity of Levister Towers this morning.

Although this incident did not occur on school grounds, out of an abundance of caution, several nearby schools went into lockout. 

The district deployed the District Crisis Team - school counselors, psychologists, social workers and other personnel - to all surrounding schools and high schools and will be available to our students on a rotating basis for the remainder of the week, or as needed. 

Please be assured that the health, safety and welfare of our students and staff continues to be our highest priority and we will take all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure that our schools continue to be a safe learning environment for our students.

The Mount Vernon City School District will fully cooperate with the Mount Vernon Police Department in this matter. We will continue to keep the community apprised to the extent legally permissible and appropriate under the circumstances.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family at this most difficult time.

Sincerely,

Dr. K. Veronica Smith, Ed. D
Acting Superintendent of Schools

 

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Community Message - Edward Williams School Incident

4-24-2024 
Dr. Pauline Pearce, Mount Vernon High School Principal (Superintendent for the Day):  

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

I am writing to inform you about an incident that occurred at Williams School this afternoon where a flame erupted in a classroom. The room was immediately evacuated with minimal disruption to the rest of the building. Emergency personnel were immediately called to the scene, and all necessary precautions were taken to ensure the safety of everyone in the building. 

Dr. Pearce
Dr. Pauline Pearce serves as third Superintendent for a Day

Leadership requires the ability to make decisions quickly, and on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Mount Vernon High School Principal Dr. Pauline Pearce served as superintendent for the day and had the responsibility of making those decisions. Dr. Pearce was the third participant in Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith’s “Superintendent for a Day” series.  

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Community Message - Foundation Aid Restored to Budget

4-22-2024 
Dr. K. Veronica Smith, Acting Superintendent of Schools:  

We are collectively letting out a sigh of relief in the Mount Vernon City School District, as we have been notified that our state aid funding for the upcoming school year will not be reduced. After over a month of lobbying with state and local officials, we prevailed and will receive the $2.9 million that was set to be removed from our budget in Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal. 

Student interested in working for buildings and grounds shaking hands with staff.
Mount Vernon City School District hosts Community Career Fair

Principals throughout the district set up tables with brochures highlighting the District’s accomplishments at the Mount Vernon High School cafeteria to showcase their school for potential applicants during the Mount Vernon City School District Community Fair on Thursday, April 18, 2024.  

Student shooting basketball.
Mount Vernon Knights Pioneer League team competes against Woodlands High School

Cheers erupted with every basket made in the Mount Vernon High School gym, as students with disabilities from Mount Vernon High School and Woodlands High School competed in a game of basketball on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The game was held through the New York State Pioneer League, which provides students with disabilities the opportunity to play on a team.