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MVCSD officials attend Conference of Big 5 School Districts

Betty Rosa, Adriane Saunders, and Dr. Smith.
MVCSD officials attend Conference of Big 5 School Districts

Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith, Board of Education President Adriane Saunders, and Assistant Superintendent for Business Jose Formoso attended the Conference of Big 5 School Districts annual fall meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

Alongside representatives from other Big 5 school districts, they listened to presentations from the conference's leadership, the NYS Department of Labor, the NYS Education Department (NYSED), the NYS Board of Regents and a father of a Parkland shooting victim who is an advocate for making schools safer.

They learned about resources available from the Department of Labor, artificial intelligence in pre-K to 12th grade (P-12) education, the P-20 (pre-K through postgraduate) education system, and different ways to improve school safety. They also discussed tools to find grant funding for school districts.

Commissioner of Education Dr. Betty Rosa discussed graduation measures, regionalization, early college high school, media literacy, accountability, Foundation Aid, and the U.S. Department of Education.

“This was a very productive conference, and it is always great to collaborate with other school districts and NYSED for the benefit of our scholars,” said Dr. Smith. “We received a wealth of information that we will be able to utilize to assist us in effectively managing our District and providing a high-quality education.”

Dr.DemarioStricklandSuperintendent
Community Message: Welcome Address from Dr. Demario A. Strickland, Superintendent of Schools

Greetings Mount Vernon, 

Thank you for entrusting your children’s education to me as Superintendent of Schools for the Mount Vernon City School District. Over the past few weeks, I have spent time getting to know the community of Mount Vernon, and I am impressed with the pride that fills the city. I am looking forward to making sure that residents are filled with that same pride for the schools that their children attend. I am excited to step in and get right to the important work of improving our District and achieving our shared vision of success. 

Inductees during hall of fame ceremony.
State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thomspon, Congressman George Latimer and the late Elise Finch-Henriques get inducted into the MVHS Hall of Fame

The Mount Vernon City School District inducted former State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thomspon, Congressman George Latimer and the late Elise Finch-Henriques into the Mount Vernon High School Hall of Fame Saturday morning. Families, loved ones, administrators, educators, colleagues and community members gathered at Mount Vernon High School to celebrate this prestigious induction.

Photo left to right: Dr. Smith, Trustee Lorna Kirwan, Trustee Adriane Saunders, In-House Counsel Royce Russell, Trustee Helene Thompson Njenga
Community Message: Thank you message from Acting Superintendent to outgoing trustees

Dr. K. Veronica Smith, Acting Superintendent:

As their terms as trustees of the Mount Vernon City School District come to an end, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Trustee Adriane Saunders, Trustee Lorna Kirwan, and Trustee Helene Thompson-Njenga for all they have done for our District during their time in office. They served as champions for education, always making decisions to better serve the children of Mount Vernon. Our District will wear the mark of the work they have done for years to come, and I am so appreciative of everything we were able to accomplish together for our scholars.

Valedictorian giving speech at graduation.
MVHS and RTA graduate 274 from the Class of 2025 at Memorial Field ceremony

Graduates from Mount Vernon High School and Rebecca Turner Academy walked the stage at Memorial Field on Wednesday evening, as 274 from the Class of 2025 received their diplomas. Students waved and smiled to their families and friends in the packed stadium as they took their places at the front of the ceremony, accompanied by percussion from the Ice Cold Performing Arts, a group made up of Mount Vernon students.

Click here to view the full photo gallery!