City Residents will be asked to approve the reallocation of bond money to accommodate growth.
MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (December 14, 2016) — The Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education will ask voters to approve a plan to repurpose existing bond funds to accommodate anticipated student population growth. The board voted unanimously at its December 13 meeting to put the bond reallocation proposal to a public vote on January 31, 2017.
The plan calls for the repurposing of a portion of the $108 million bond approved by residents in May. Additions are proposed for several elementary school buildings, and land acquisition and building changes require approval from the public. More elementary level classroom space is anticipated due to new planned housing developments that will increase the school age population in the city.
“We are not asking for any more money,” Said Dr. Kenneth R. Hamilton, Superintendent of Schools. “We find there is a need for us to provide more space for an influx of children into the district, and we’re asking the public to allow us to repurpose some funds to get ahead of this now while we have the opportunity.”
The new plan also calls for keeping neighborhood schools intact. Parker Elementary School had originally been slated to become a pre-K center for the south side of the city. In response to community input, the new plan will refigure Parker as a Pre-k -8 building.
“We heard the parents and reconsidered,” said Lesly Zamor, Board of Education President. “Parker is a school that has always done very well. We plan to make it a K-8 building with an enhanced Pre-K center and build upon that success.”
Full details on the bond referendum can be found on the district website at www.mtvernoncsd.org
About Mount Vernon City School District
With more than 8,000 students in 16 schools, the Mount Vernon City School District is committed to providing a quality education to its children as well as developing programs that meet the diverse academic and social needs of its students.
