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District holds budget hearing for proposed 2025-2026 school year budget

Budget Hearing - May 6
District holds budget hearing for proposed 2025-2026 school year budget

The Mount Vernon City School District hosted a public hearing for the 2025-2026 school year budget this Tuesday. Jose Formoso, Assistant Superintendent for Business, presented the budget, which will go to voters on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. He then answered questions from community members. 

Click to view the budget presentation (PDF)

The budget includes a 3.3% increase to the tax levy, which adds $4.4 million in revenue that directly supports athletics, Universal Prekindergarten, visual and performing arts, and after school programs. The added revenue will also allow the District to address outstanding contracts with its bargaining units such as the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers.

Mr. Formoso answered questions from the community, explaining aspects of the budget such as the tax cap and a possible state aid spin up, contingent on the approval of the New York State budget. The state tax cap for the District this year is 5%, and that number is calculated based on a formula for each school district in New York. 

The District has petitioned the NYS Legislature to include an advance of $8 million in state aid, or a "spin up". If the NYS budget passes, that funding would be approved. A state aid spin up allows the District to receive additional state aid and pay it back over 30 years. So, an $8 million spin up would reduce the District’s state aid by about $266,000 per year for the next 30 years, while addressing many of the current fiscal concerns. 

Budget presentations will be held throughout the community leading up to the budget vote on May 20. 

Upcoming budget presentations:

  • Thursday, May 8: 6 p.m. at Pennington School
  • Monday, May 12: 6:30 p.m. on Zoom with the Chester Hill Park Neighborhood Association. Click here to access the Zoom link. (Meeting ID: 989 7251 6370; Passcode: 271751)
  • Tuesday, May 13: 5:30 p.m. at Graham School with the PTA council, followed by a school board candidates forum at 6 p.m.

Voter and polling information, more information about the budget, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the District website at www.mtvernoncsd.org/budget. The full budget hearing video can also be viewed on that page.
 

A colorful spinning wheel is projected onto a large screen in a room with tables and chairs in the foreground and people seated in the background.
Lottery for UPK-3 hosted at Board of Education

For the sixth year, the Mount Vernon City School District is offering prekindergarten for three-year-olds (UPK-3). A lottery was held on Thursday afternoon for the upcoming 2026-27 school year to occupy the 60 spots available.

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An end of the year message from Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland

My first year as superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District has been unforgettable, thanks to the support and dedication of our families, students, faculty, and staff. It has been my honor to serve this community and work toward building a brighter future for all of us. This was a successful year, and I want you to know that every bit of it was felt and heard. We faced real challenges and grew stronger because of them, and the progress we made together touched me deeply. It belonged to every family, student, teacher, and staff member who showed up and gave this district their best. 

A group of people stand on a stage holding certificates in front of a white screen, while an audience sits in a dark auditorium in the foreground.
PTA Council awards $1,000 Edith Kaplan Scholarships to 16 students

Sixteen students from the Class of 2026 were awarded with $1,000 Edith Kaplan Scholarships from the Mount Vernon PTA Council at the Board of Education meeting this Tuesday. The scholarships, raised through the Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance, will help support the students' college goals, which were highlighted as they received the scholarships. 

A young boy and an adult man sit in the foreground with tables of snacks and people in colorful clothing in the background.
3rd annual Gentleman's Brunch hosted at Pennington School

Young Scholars in grades sixth through eighth, along with their fathers and fatherly figures, congregated in the auditorium at Pennington School for the third annual Gentlemen’s Brunch. Esteemed professionals from across the City of Mount Vernon visited to discuss what it means to be a leader and how to overcome hardships.