Board of Education Trustee final vote count announced
The Mount Vernon City School District needed an extra day to determine the winners of the Board of Trustee race to fill four of the five seats being contested. Following the closing of the polls at 9 pm on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, electronic results were reported and absentee ballots were counted, but 23 affidavit ballots still needed to be verified by the Westchester County Board of Elections and ballots that met residency requirements were counted.
One candidate, Lynne Middleton, had enough votes early Wednesday morning to be sworn into the Board of Trustees. The 23 affidavit ballots would not have made a difference in her victory. Of the 23 affidavit ballots, 20 were approved by the Board of Elections Wednesday. After tabulating the affidavit ballots, the final unofficial results of the election, pending the certification by the Board of Education, are:
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Lynne Middleton (865 votes) was sworn in on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, and will serve a full term, expiring June 30, 2026
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Sabina Kelley (838 votes) will be sworn in at a special meeting this week for a full term, expiring June 30, 2026
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Warren Mitchell (831 votes) will be sworn in on July 1, 2023, and serve a full term, expiring on June 30, 2026
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Orville Gayle (796 votes) will be sworn in at a special meeting this week and will serve the unexpired portion of a term that will run through June 30, 2024
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Helene Njenga (745 votes) will be sworn in at a special meeting this week and will serve the unexpired portion of a term that will run through June 30, 2024
Other candidates who did not earn a seat on the board: Cynthia Crenshaw (742 votes), Donna Marable (677 votes), Rosemarie Jarosz (673 votes), Precious Ferrell (656 votes), Erica Peterson (650 votes), Gloria Atisogbuie (649 votes) and Kenyetta Thomas (315 votes).
Thank you to everyone in the Mount Vernon community for coming out to vote and approving the 2023-2024 school year budget.
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.
Secondary students in the Superintendent’s Advisory Council stood in front of the room and showed off their leadership skills during their presentations on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Each student was given a scenario where they would need to lead, and they presented the methods they would use to reach their goal.
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.
The winners of the Mount Vernon City School District “Biggest Loser” challenge gathered around the Education Center with smiling faces, holding their plaques and checks during the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
Another friendly face took place as superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District for a day on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Dr. Colleen Seivright-Crawford, principal at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy, fulfilled the position of superintendent for Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith’s “Superintendent for a Day,” series. In exchange, Dr. Smith served as the principal at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy.
The annual Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance hosted by the Mount Vernon PTA Council was a night filled with music, laughter, celebration and a strong sense of community. The event, held on Friday, April 12, 2024, not only raised money to provide scholarships to seniors from all four high schools in Mount Vernon, but also celebrated the accomplishments of 20 exceptional individuals within the District.
Dear PTA Council,
Thank you for hosting the wonderful Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance last week. I am always happy to see the amazing faculty and staff in Mount Vernon schools be recognized, and I am so grateful for the money raised to support our graduates.
Click here to view the remainder of the letter from Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith