Mount Vernon students returning to the classroom today can expect quite a few changes.

After two years of learning during the pandemic, staff and student will be experiencing a more normal school year.

Still some things are different. First off, the district has a new superintendent - Dr. Waveline Bennett-Conroy. She is not new to Mount Vernon schools since she served as interim superintendent in 2011. It was this July that she officially started her new position.

There is also a new safety plan in place. School officials have basically revamped all protocols, from how visitors enter buildings, to bullying, to more security officers and cameras.

A grand opening is planned for next Monday for the district's new Parent Resource Center. It's a place where parents, guardians and families can go to get support and assistance when it comes to their children's education.

Dr. Bennet-Conroy says she listened and worked with parents to institute many changes from the district's new safety plan and protocols to make sure families have help and support when it comes to their children's education. "Parent involvement and parent engagement is critical and we have been dying for that for many years, so I have reached out to them, email messages."

And there's assistance when it comes to Bee-Line Bus passes. The school district is subsidizing half the cost of the Bee-Line MetroCard student bus pass for students in grades 7 through 12. The program reduces the per-semester cost from $290 to $145.

For more information on the bus pass deal and all the new programs, click here.