Mount Vernon school district possibly getting monitor from state to help with 'financial distress'
The state could soon be stepping in to monitor the Mount Vernon City School District. It comes as families grapple with three schools closing.
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The state could soon be stepping in to monitor the Mount Vernon City School District. It comes as families grapple with three schools closing.
Concerns are overflowing outside the Mount Vernon Honor Academy.
"It's kind of confusing and it's heartbreaking," says Nadia Powell, whose daughter attends the school.
It's one of three schools within the Mount Vernon City School District that are slated to close. The others are Cecil H. Parker School and Mount Vernon Leadership Academy.
The reason for the closures has been put on severe fiscal challenges within the district. Leaders with the district say enrollment is down and the cost for needed repairs at some of their schools is high.
It means reconfiguring the grades in some of the buildings.
"I think Mount Vernon needs assistance, the district needs assistance," says Mount Vernon parent Ariana Aguilar.
That assistance could finally be on the way.
"The commissioner does plan to appoint a monitor to assist us with our financial distress," that's what the acting superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District, Dr. K. Veronica Smith said during a recent school board meeting.
As of right now, officials with the New York State Education Department say a monitor hasn't been appointed.
However, district officials say that's in the works.
"I am so happy for the support I have received from the commissioner. She wants to help Mount Vernon. When she mentioned the possibility of Mount Vernon getting a monitor, I was all for it," said Dr. K. Veronica Smith in a statement to News 12.
Families in Mount Vernon tell News 12, they don't know the details yet of what this means for the district.
"It really would have helped if we had one a couple years back because maybe we wouldn't even be in this predicament now. We are still grateful that the state is going to step in and help us out," says Erica Peterson, PTA president for Mount Vernon High School.
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There's no timeline right now of when this monitor could be brought in.
Meanwhile, the school district needs to submit a petition for the reconfiguration of these schools to the state by March 1.
If things go as planned, the new school model would take effect to start the 2025-2026 school year.
You can read the full reconfiguration plans from the school district here.
