Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland presents MVCSD budget priorities to New York State Assembly

Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland provided testimony in Albany at the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2026 New York State Executive Budget. Dr. Strickland advocated for legislation to support the District, including Foundation Aid funding reform and support of Assembly Bill A6827, which “relates to the establishment of multi-year cost allowances for the Mount Vernon (City) School District.”

The District faces significant financial challenges, having been designated by the New York State Comptroller as being in fiscal stress following the 2024-25 school year. Dr. Strickland explained how the Foundation Aid formula penalizes the District for high Westchester property values without recognizing that it serves students with needs comparable to other districts in the Conference of Big 5 School Districts – Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers, with affiliate members Albany and Utica. Mount Vernon is an affiliate member.

The District educates a diverse population, and many students enrolled – 4,706 out of 6,448 – come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. There are also five different languages spoken and 605 English Language Learners throughout the District, and 7.5% of families are Spanish-speaking. Additionally, the District serves 1,374 students with disabilities, requiring additional special education services. 

The District spends $37,451 per student, which is above the state average of $36,293. The District receives about $17,000 in state aid per student.

Another significant challenge is that almost $15 million is sent to charter schools annually.

“Mount Vernon students have the same needs as students in the Big 5 + 3, but the District receives vastly different state support,” said Dr. Strickland. “While under state monitorship and losing $14.9 million to charters, we're asked to do more with less.”

Dr. Strickland asked legislators to provide the District with full Foundation Aid funding and formula reform and to oppose charter school funding expansions. He also lobbied for reform on Industrial Development Agency (IDA) tax incentives and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements and an increase in capital funding support for critical infrastructure repairs.

Dr. Strickland’s legislative priorities to help the District meet its goals include expanding mental health and student support services, implementing the Primary Years Program (International Baccalaureate), establishing true bilingual programming, addressing IDA tax incentives and PILOT impact on District revenue, upgrading technology infrastructure and classroom devices, and settling labor agreements. Currently, the District does not have sufficient funds to meet these goals.

With additional support, the District would be able to address building repairs and facilities infrastructure, strengthen special education support and services, and expand Universal Pre-Kindergarten programming.  

With aging infrastructure, the District needs funding to address aging HVAC systems, roofs, and electrical infrastructure. An increase in funding would allow the District to prioritize critical repairs and improvements to building infrastructure and ensure a safe, healthy, and conducive learning environment for all students and staff. The repair process would include comprehensive facilities assessments to identify urgent needs and development of a multi-year capital improvement plan.

“$416 million in total would be needed to bring my schools up to par,” said Dr. Strickland. “The worst part: that doesn't even include academic enhancements.”

To improve special education services, the District plans to prioritize specialized instructional materials, assistive technology, and professional development for special education teachers and related service providers. Currently, there is a 200:1 ratio of students to school counselors, and Dr. Strickland hopes to reduce that to allow for more individualized attention and improve the quality of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

The District is also seeking to increase collaboration between general education and special education staff to promote inclusive practices and co-teaching models that support student achievement.

Due to the District’s large Spanish-speaking population, a bilingual program is required under NYSED Part 154. The District plans to design a dual-language curriculum that meets state standards and supports cultural inclusivity by recruiting and training bilingual educators and ensuring access to professional development and instructional resources.

Another program the District is looking to add is International Baccalaureate’s (IB) Primary Years Program. To do this, it will develop a phased implementation plan that includes staff training and curriculum alignment with IB standards. The District will also establish partnerships with IB-certified consultants to guide authorization and compliance processes across designated school sites.

Expanding capacity of the existing pre-K3 program will be instrumental in ensuring students are beginning their academic journey as early as possible. Expansion will require the District to secure additional classrooms and hire certified early childhood educators to accommodate enrollment demands. The pre-K3 program has a waitlist of 310 students, but only 36 are being served due to fiscal constraints.

Technology improvement is another major priority for the District. Additional funding would be used to invest in modernizing network systems, interactive boards, and student devices to support blended learning and digital equity. The District will also implement robust cybersecurity measures and ensure reliable connectivity across all District facilities.

Dr. Strickland closed by requesting that the NYS Assembly supports Assembly Bill A6827 to help the District modernize and meet its educational goals.

“The bottom line is our students deserve funding equity,” Dr. Strickland said in closing. “They deserve to shine.”