Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland highlights strong start to new school year

Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland on Tuesday described a strong start to the school year, pointing to family engagement, student attendance and safety and new grant funding among the key issues in his monthly presentation to the Board of Education.

Dr. Strickland started his Superintendent’s Report by noting that the District successfully organized the annual Convocation, where faculty and staff participated in professional development, welcomed seven new principals and recognized employees with decades of service.

“Our yearly Convocation kicked off the new year on a high note!” Dr. Strickland said. “Not only did our faculty and staff have the opportunity to grow professionally, but they also met new principals and administrators while being recognized for their years of service and dedication to our children’s education.”

Families have also played a prominent role in the opening weeks. All 13 schools held back-to-school nights, giving parents and guardians opportunities to meet teachers and learn about curriculum, classroom expectations and ways they can support their children at home. Several schools also participated in Bring Your Dad to School Day, welcoming fathers and father figures into their buildings.

“Parent involvement is critical for a child’s education, as it enhances academic achievement and social-emotional development,” Dr. Strickland said.

The District also commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, using funding from a 9/11 Day AmeriCorps grant to plant flowers and beautify flagpole areas at District buildings.

“Twenty-five years ago, we were all devastated by the tragic 9/11 attacks, and ever since we pledged to never forget,” Dr. Strickland said. “We want our students to understand the impact of that day so that they too won’t forget.”

The 9/11 funding is among several grants recently secured by the District’s Office of Grants and Strategic Development. They include funding for Career and Technical Education, school violence prevention, teacher recruitment and development, science, mathematics, bilingual education, English as a New Language and after-school programming.

The largest is a $2.25 million School Violence Prevention Grant, while Teachers of Tomorrow programs will bring more than $1.1 million to the District. The District also receives $92,502 annually through the Perkins Grant for Career and Technical Education.

“It is so important that we do whatever we can to gain additional funding to maximize opportunities for our students,” Dr. Strickland said. “We will continue seeking additional grants and working to secure whatever funding is available to us.”

Attendance continues to be a priority as the District promotes its “Present Every Day, the Mount Vernon Way” campaign. Dr. Strickland encouraged families to review the District’s attendance policy and stressed the connection between consistently being in school and learning.

“Attendance is so important,” he said. “We are stressing all year long to our students just how important attendance is and show them that it’s the Mount Vernon way to be an active learner.”

He also reminded the community about a new City of Mount Vernon school-safety initiative that has installed 38 school-zone speed cameras, along with cameras on school buses. The school-zone speed limit is 15 mph, with violations subject to a $50 fine following police review.

Transportation is changing as well, with the District participating in the OMNY program for Bee-Line bus service and MetroCards no longer being accepted. The District is subsidizing part of the cost for eligible students, with additional information available on the District website.

Families were also encouraged to activate their Infinite Campus accounts, where they can access student progress reports and report cards throughout the year. The first interim progress reports will be issued Oct. 2.

Student voice will remain a focus through the Mount Vernon Voice & Vision Student Organization, formerly the Superintendent’s Advisory Council. Dr. Strickland is meeting with the group as it begins planning for the year and prepares to participate in the District’s strategic planning process.

“I am excited to collaborate with this group of students to hear their insights on ways to improve our schools,” he said.

Dr. Strickland also highlighted the Junior League of Bronxville’s Joyful Closet at Edward Williams School, which makes clothing and other necessities available to students across the District. He encouraged community members who are able to contribute gently used items to support the effort.

The report also recognized a moving tribute at Graham School to former student Shamoya McKenzie, who was killed in 2016 and would have turned 23 this month. Students heard from school leaders and Shamoya’s mother about her academic and athletic accomplishments, kindness and determination.

“I was impressed with how students respectfully listened as speakers stressed the importance of togetherness and supporting your peers,” Dr. Strickland said.

Looking ahead, Dr. Strickland reminded families to follow the District calendar and website for upcoming events, academic deadlines and testing dates, including SAT and PSAT/NMSQT testing in October. He also encouraged qualified applicants to explore open positions with the District.

Taken together, the report reflected Dr. Strickland’s emphasis on maintaining the momentum of a successful school opening while strengthening the connections among students, families, staff and the broader Mount Vernon community.

“Thank you to everyone who helped to make sure we were ready to start the year on a positive note,” Dr. Strickland said. “I look forward to seeing all the amazing things we will achieve this year.”