MOUNT VERNON – An audience of 200 senior citizens got a glimpse Thursday of the inevitable changes that are coming to Mount Vernon City Schools.
The district welcomed them to its fall seniors luncheon, which began with chicken pot pie, rosemary potatoes, salad and pumpkin pudding in the high school gym, followed by an hour-long program in the theater.
Superintendent Bill Seder lauded the work of students and staff that earned the district an overall 4-star rating on the recent State Report Card, an indication that the district exceeded state standards and ranks among the top 10 percent of districts its size in Ohio.
But while academic performance is high, the district’s physical facilities “are lagging behind in several areas,” Seder said.
The MVCS Master Facility Advisory Committee has met six times and is working with subcommittees, educational consultants and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to develop a long-term plan for the district’s building needs.
“The reality is that we are not going to be able to keep six elementaries,” Seder said. “We will have to go from six to something else. What that ‘something else’ will be we don’t know yet but it may involve redistricting.”
Two elementary buildings are more than 100 years old – Wiggin Street 1904 and East Elementary 1907 – while some others also do not have the space needed for special services, technology and specialized instruction and lack operational efficiency. Safety and security for all students and staff will be a priority as proposals are developed, Seder said.
The district’s current enrollment is about 3,600 but new housing and future development make growth predictions difficult. Community support and funding for building upgrades and new construction will be key factors in plans that emerge.
Seder urged the seniors to review more detailed information about facilities planning in the district’s fall newsletter which was mailed recently to 15,000 homes.
The theater program included three numbers by the high school chorale, directed by Trevor Garabrandt.
Pleasant Street Elementary teacher Brock Evans introduced the five fifth-grade members of Guys with Ties, a group that emphasizes gentlemanly principles, including respect for others and community service.
A five-minute video montage highlighted Veterans Day assemblies at all schools.