FORTVILLE — A group that’s been working for the past five months is preparing to present to the public a draft plan for Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation’s future growth.
That plan will be the culmination of the corporation’s MV Community Champions initiative. It kicked off with a public meeting in August 2019 and sought input from parents, business representatives, community leaders and residents on how the corporation should adapt to expanding enrollment. Now the plan is nearly ready to be finalized so it can guide school officials into the future.
A demographic study Mt. Vernon commissioned in early 2019 predicts the district will grow by about 2,000 students in the next 10 years. The corporation started off the 2019-20 school year with about 4,275 students, up about 150 from last year. It is on the verge of becoming the largest school district, enrollment-wise, in the county.
Jack Parker, Mt. Vernon superintendent, said the first MV Community Champions meeting led to the creation of an advisory committee of about 50 stakeholders representing school corporation faculty, staff and administration along with community members, parents and local business representatives. They’ve been meeting monthly to process input the initiative has drawn and develop a draft of the future growth plan.
“We developed our shared values, we looked at different grade level configurations, we looked at finances in much great detail,” Parker said. “We’ve had a lot of great conversations, and so far we are — as a large group of close to 50 folks — are all thinking very similarly in regards to what we’re going to share next week.”
Everyone is invited to the meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, where the draft of the future growth plan will be presented.
“We would love to have all Mt. Vernon stakeholders join us for this continued conversation,” Parker said.
That includes all district residents, business owners and civic leaders along with school staff and family members of students, said Maria Bond, director of community relations for Mt. Vernon.
“We want everyone there,” Bond said. “It’s very important that we hear their voices.”
A town hall-style meeting will follow the hour-long presentation on Tuesday, during which attendees will be able to ask questions.
After the event, the advisory committee will apply final changes to the growth plan and prepare to present it to the school board.
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WHAT: MV Community Champions
WHEN: 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020; town hall Q-and-A to follow
WHERE: Auditorium at Mt. Vernon High School, 8112 N. 200W, Fortville
Sign up at mvcsc.k12.in.us.
View the MV Community Champions Advisory Committee’s work at mvcsc.k12.in.us/content/706.
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