Greetings MVCSD Community,

We are excited to address you, together, to welcome a new era in the Mount Vernon City School District. We have a shared vision and vested interest in the success of this District, and this transition period will be one of collaboration and purpose. There is important work to be done, and these next couple months will be dedicated to listening, learning and a commitment to building relationships and trust to deliver strong results. We will work together to chart an ambitious course of action that will best serve our students in preparation for the new administration.

We understand the importance of listening to the voices of all stakeholders during this time of transition. Mount Vernon students and families deserve the very best, and we are dedicated to providing that in the form of strong academic opportunities, support for mental health and wellbeing of students and staff, diverse offerings of performing arts and athletics, and a deep connection with the community. We are committed to providing Mount Vernon with schools that the entire city can be proud of.

Everything we do will be centered on students, and we are implementing a comprehensive plan to ensure an effective transition. Our first steps will help set us on a positive path of constant improvement and student achievement. While there are challenges that must be addressed and overcome, there is so much to celebrate in this District. Our committed staff have always worked diligently to serve our students, and we will work closely with them to make the best decisions for our children. We will continue the work that has already begun on improving outcomes for our students, opening doors to the opportunities that they all deserve.

Our collaborative work with the Board of Education, City Hall, state legislators and the entire community will allow us to begin transforming the District and strengthening our schools. This is a pivotal moment for the Mount Vernon City School District, and we are excited to embark on this journey. By July 1, we will have a clear path towards accomplishing our goals in the 2025-2026 school year and beyond.

Sincerely,

Dr. K. Veronica Smith
Acting Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Demario A. Strickland
Incoming Superintendent of Schools

The Knight Times 2025-2026 school year budget newsletter is available online and can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here. The newsletter contains a comprehensive overview of the proposed budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 20, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Click here to visit the budget page for more information about the 2025-2026 budget.

The Mount Vernon Board of Education unanimously selected Dr. Demario A. Strickland as Mount Vernon City School District’s new Superintendent of Schools. The appointment, effective July 1, was made during the Board’s special meeting on Wednesday.

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Ninth graders at the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy presented short stories that they wrote in class to kindergarteners at Nelson Mandela/Dr. Hosea Zollicoffer School. This project-based learning assignment is titled “Little Readers, Big Authors” and is a part of a trilogy of events that allowed STEAM students the opportunity to interview younger students, learn about their likes and interests, and write children’s books tailored to what they’ve learned.

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Moving on up! Congratulations to the seniors at Mount Vernon High School, Denzel Washington School of the Arts and Rebecca Turner Academy who celebrated their post-graduation endeavors on Thursday. Students shared their future plans with classmates and teachers as they honored all the hard work they have put into their education.

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Jasmine Damian is a senior at the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy who balances extracurricular activities with a keen focus on academics and her education. With a little over a month left before completing four years of high school, Jasmine is ready to celebrate all of her accomplishments and walk across the graduation stage!

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