One Mount Vernon Digital Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Greetings MVCSD Community,
At this week’s Board of Education meeting, Mount Vernon Comptroller Dr. Darren Morton gave an informative presentation about the status of unpaid taxes and how the situation has affected the finances of the Mount Vernon City School District and the City. While the District’s financial situation has been a challenge, we are happy that we are collaborating with the City of Mount Vernon to ensure that the District receives the funding it needs to operate. Thank you, Dr. Morton, for coming to help inform the community and for working with us through this process.
The second presentation at the Board meeting related to the Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency (IDA). The Board of Education has suggested a resolution which would prevent the IDA from granting tax abatements from school taxes to residential buildings. You can read more about how these tax abatements affect the school district and ways that you can support the recommended resolution on our website.
Cecil H. Parker School fourth-grade students worked on research projects this week, learning about different animals and creating detailed reports. District-wide, students are being assigned comprehensive research papers in high school, but we are beginning to teach those research skills even earlier for our younger students. Great work, Ms. Gomes-Arias, for giving your students a fun and enriching experience to practice their research!
Our Senior Spotlight Series highlights STEAM Academy’s very own Isaac Amouzou this week! Isaac has already achieved so much, with tremendous grades and college acceptances and scholarships rolling in, all while being a talented and committed student-athlete. Good luck in the next steps of your journey Isaac. The Mount Vernon City School District will be rooting for you!
The Derby Tea Party at Pennington School was a wonderful way to celebrate Women’s History Month. The tea party’s theme, which was “Inform, Educate, Empower,” is a great reminder that empowerment often comes through knowledge, especially for young women. Students heard from inspiring women, who have found success in different professional fields, including politics. Thank you to all the women who came to be role models for our students, and happy Women’s History Month!
Kindest Regards,
Dr. K. Veronica Smith
Acting Superintendent of Schools
MOUNT VERNON COMPTROLLER GIVES TAX PRESENTATION AT BOARD MEETING
City of Mount Vernon Comptroller Dr. Darren Morton presented at the Mount Vernon Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to discuss the process of tax collection, the amount of unpaid taxes owed to the Mount Vernon City School District, and the schedule for when the District will receive the funds.
PRESENTATION ON MV IDA TAX ABATEMENTS GIVEN AT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
Board Trustee Dr. Chris McDonough and Tom Scapoli, an attorney for Ingerman Smith LLP, gave a presentation about the cost of Mount Vernon’s industrial development tax abatements at the Mount Vernon Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, March 18. These abatements, called payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs), are issued by the Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency (MV IDA).
STUDENTS AT CECIL H. PARKER SCHOOL RESEARCH DIFFERENT ANIMALS
Scholars in Julia Gomes-Arias’ fourth-grade classroom at Cecil H. Parker School are currently conducting a research project on different species of animals. Students are working in groups to discover facts about the animals and assemble information to piece together a well-written research report. Ms. Gomes’ students are extremely excited to be working together to write about animals such as harp seals, frogs, sea lions, and cheetahs.
STEAM SENIOR STANDS OUT ON AND OFF THE SOCCER FIELD
Isaac Amouzou is a senior at Mount Vernon STEAM Academy who shows the same dedication and precision to his academics that he does on the soccer field. Isaac has spent his high school years developing himself as a highly regarded student-athlete and an exemplary scholar.
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH HONORED AT PENNINGTON WITH DERBY TEA PARTY
Five esteemed women, most of whom are from Mount Vernon, visited Pennington School to tell young female scholars to never give up on their dreams and to celebrate Women’s History year-round. For the second year in a row, Pennington hosted a Women’s History Month Derby Tea Party celebration on March 20, 2025. This year’s theme was “Inform, Educate, Empower.”