MOUNT VERNON, NY — Mount Vernon public schools face a very difficult future as enrollment declines.
Mount Vernon High is at 35% capacity, and with finances tight, district leaders say it’s time to close several school buildings.
Mount Vernon’s acting superintendent is proposing to close three schools
Mount Vernon operates 16 schools serving 6,500 students. By comparison, nearby New Rochelle has 10 schools for 10,000 students.
Acting Superintendent K. Veronica Smith is proposing to close three schools as the district reassesses how many buildings it has and how many it needs.
The list of possible closures includes Mount Vernon Honor Academy, Mount Vernon Leadership Academy and Cecil H. Parker School, named for Mount Vernon’s first black teacher.
It’s a painful decision for Smith, who himself attended Cecil H. Parker School.
“I went to kindergarten through third grade there. I still remember my kindergarten teacher, Miss Russell,” she said.
Meanwhile, unpaid property taxes have cost the district more than $20 million.
“We’re in a community where people really can’t afford these high taxes. And so sometimes it’s hard to collect what people don’t have,” Smith said.
Many schools in Mount Vernon are in need of extensive repairs.
“A survey of the condition of the buildings has been done and that survey shows that we need to make approximately $395 million in repairs throughout the district,” said Jose Formoso, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.
Parents speak out against closures during town hall meeting
Dismayed parents made their voices heard at a town hall meeting on Friday evening. Some criticized the district during some heated discussions.
“The questionnaires never mentioned school closures. When was that decided? My question is: when was there a feeling that schools had to close?” one parent asked.
“The discussion about closing schools has been going on for a few years,” Smith said.
“What is the use of the meeting, the collective gathering of the people, if we have already made a decision?” asked another parent.
An official closure plan must be submitted before March 1.
Katie Houlis contributed to this report.
