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The Mount Vernon School Board approved a one-year extension for Hamilton this week, which will retain his services in the city through August 2022, giving him more time to implement his “20/20 Vision” for the school district.
Hamilton began a true rebuild of the school last year following the approval of a “historic” $108 million bond referendum by taxpayers which is allowing for an overhaul of infrastructure and a transition from a traditional “K-8” education model that will emphasize early childhood.
Since Hamilton took over in the summer of 2014, students’ proficiency rate on the ELA has risen from 12 percent to 28 percent, while math scores are up from 15 percent proficiency to this year’s total.
Hamilton has also overseen a more fiscally responsible school district, including budgets with no tax levy increases for taxpayers.
This year, his approved “Fiscal Plan for Academic Excellence” had a zero percent increase in the tax levy for the third consecutive year. Mount Vernon was the only district within New York State with no increase.
Officials said the approved budget was 100 percent aligned with the Board of Education’s goals to create systems to promote student achievement and increase outcomes, paying particular attention to subgroups in order to close the student achievement gap. It additionally implemented a multi-year plan for improving buildings, grounds, and facilities, including the exploration of private and public partnerships.
“The board’s approval of my contract extension demonstrates its confidence in the direction the Mt. Vernon City School District is going, and that direction is forward,” Hamilton said in a statement. “Test scores and student outcomes have already begun to rise thanks to our commitment to providing opportunities that meet our diverse student body’s needs, but much work still needs to be done.”
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