Board of Education Meeting, October 20, 2026
The Mt. Vernon R-V School District Board of Education met in regular session on October 20, 2026.
In Open Session:
- The Mountain Movers from September were recognized for their commitment to modeling the Portrait of a MT'NEER. Their names and what they were nominated for were shown and recognized. Each person makes a positive difference every day!
- Attendance & Daily Averages: September ended with a 95.41% district attendance rate and an Average Daily Attendance (ADA) of 1,321.18 students (a slight increase of +0.80 students compared to last year).
- Official Membership & Funding Impact: September membership stands at 1,446.74 students (down 41.36 from last year, mirroring last year's trend). State funding calculations this year will be based on a formula of 80% ADA and 20% Membership, using whichever of the last three years yields the highest count. Enrollment is something we will continue to watch as this will affect funding in the next year.
- Building Improvement Plans: Dr. Prevo presented the updated Building Improvement Plans for board review and approval. Administrators gave an update at each building on new goals in their Building Improvement Plans. This aligns with CSIP (Comprehensive School Improvement Plan) and is part of the MSIP Review for 2026-27. Each building focused on Real World Learning opportunities at each level, attendance, and academic progress. Goals are aligned with the overall CSIP plan for the school, but have focused on specific goals for each building.
- Early Childhood Program Update: Mrs. Jones shared an operational report on the District’s Early Childhood Program in alignment with Anchor 1 of the Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP). The focus on Portrait of a MT’NEER in lessons and recognition for our early learners is teaching these character traits through hands-on learning and every day lessons. The community involvement with the Health Department, Fire Department, Library and other local organizations are also providing lessons to our early learners to show Real World Learning at all levels.
- Parents As Teachers: Mrs. Taleah Johnston provided a report on the Parents As Teachers program. Mrs. Johnston walked through a home visit activity to demonstrate the skills being addressed through the visits. Mrs. Johnston has a great passion for providing resources and activities for families. She has worked hard to grow the program and conducted 278 visits last year and is on track to complete that many or more this year. She also does screenings for ELC students, holds group meetings for students and families, and provides a multitude of resources for families and community members. This program is vital to the growth of students and is a great connection for home and school from the very beginning.
- Special Education & Placement Rates: Mr. Morton provided an overview of the Special Education Program, detailing current services and placement rates (CSIP Anchor 1).
- PAC Update: A progress report on the Performing Arts Center (PAC) was presented. The auditorium acoustic wall paneling is in and the seats are being installed this week. The completion date is still for the end of October or first of November. The school district will plan a grand opening to invite community members and all stakeholders. This is an exciting time for our community.
- A board policy was updated to reflect a recent administrative personnel change, designating Dr. Garrett Prevo as the updated contact person after Mrs. Elsey’s retirement.
In Closed Session:
- After 43 years with the Mt. Vernon School District, Sue Barb has officially turned in her retirement effective at the end of this school year. Mrs. Barb has been an integral part of the district and has held many roles including para, Special Education Administrative Assistant, and most recently, Core Data and MOSIS Coordinator. Mrs. Barb is moving closer to family. We are grateful for the service and dedication she has given to Mt. Vernon Schools!
- Samantha Andrews resigned her position as ELC Custodian effective October 30, 2026. Ms. Andrews has been with the district since June 2022. We appreciate the work Ms. Andrews has done for our district!
- Ms. Kayla Elbert was hired as an Intermediate School Special Education para. Ms. Elbert has several years of experience in a similar position with another school district. She has been substituting for the district for the last month.
- The Board also approved substitute teachers.
The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 7:00 in the Mt. Vernon R-V Boardroom.