Page 7 - 2024-2025 Mount Vernon Chamber Directory

Superintendent’s Message 7

DR. ISMAEL VIVANCO
Mount Vernon School District
Excellence in Teaching
mountvernonschools.org
Welcome to the Mount Vernon School District. I am honored to lead this dynamic district
with its remarkable students and staff. Located in the seat of beautiful Skagit County, 60
miles north of Seattle, Mount Vernon is a diverse school district that has been serving
students since 1891. Our twelve schools and Choice Learning programs currently serve
approximately 6,500 students in grades transitional kindergarten through Grade 12. Six
elementary schools provide educational programs for students through Grade 5. Two
middle schools serve students in Grades 6 through 8. Mount Vernon High School is home to students in Grades 9-12.
The choice learning programs include Skagit Academy, Aspire Academy, and Aspire on-line, providing partnership op-
portunities and creative alternatives to meet student needs. With close to 1,000 teachers, administrators, and support
staff, the district is the largest school district in Skagit County and one of the largest employers, as well as a major
contributor to the local economy.
Strong community support for our schools is a tradition in Mount Vernon. The district has successfully passed educa-
tional programs and operations; and technology/safety and security levies for many years. This support, combined
with responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, has allowed the District to develop strong educational programs.
Highlights include:
• Transitional Kindergarten in all of our elementary • Award winning band, choir, mariachi and folklórico
schools programs at the middle and high school levels
• Small class sizes, especially in kindergarten • A dual language elementary school that feeds into
through 2nd grades dual language programming at LaVenture Middle
• Classroom technology to enhance teaching and School, and Mount Vernon High School
learning • Support for Multilingual Learners
• Programs for highly capable students, including • Partnership with the Northwest Career and
Advanced Placement courses at Mount Vernon Technical Academy for students desiring further
High School career and technical training
• A broad range of exploratory and advanced high • Specially designed instruction for learners with
school Career and Technical Education classes special needs
in the areas of family and consumer science, • Strong Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
business and marketing, visual media, information practices, creating a culture of belonging for all
technology, construction, and agricultural • Building Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS)
sciences • Strengthening Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
• Elementary Band, Orchestra, and Choir programs for students and staff
In 2016, the Mount Vernon community passed a $106.4 million construction bond funding a range of projects from the
elementary through high school levels. Harriet Rowley Elementary opened in September 2018. The rebuilt Madison
Elementary opened in September 2019. The projects at Mount Vernon High School have been completed. The reno-
vation of the campus’s iconic original building, Old Main, is a shining reflection of its original greatness. It has retained
the unique look and feel, while adding improved safety features, classroom spaces, and enlargement of the auditorium
space. The remodeling of the Fine Arts building is complete with added classrooms, space for administration and coun-
seling, and a central home for health, student support services/special education, attendance, and family liaisons. The
agriculture mechanics shop improvements have also been completed. The remodeling project at LaVenture is slated for
completion at the end of April 2024.
Throughout the last few years the district has explored the concept of a Student Focused Balanced Calendar (SFBC).
In the long term, our goal in exploring this has been to address learning loss that occurs during the long summer break,
and to increase academic success. In the short term, we are interested in exploring if a modified calendar can lead to
providing students, families, and staff with better school and work life balance. If you would like to learn more about this
concept, you can find it on our website at www.mountvernonschools.org under the Resources tab.
We are confident that with our many strong staff and positive community relationships, the district will continue provid-
ing what our residents have come to expect over the past 100+ years. Welcome to a wonderful place where our successful
learners are strengthening our community!
Ismael Vivanco, Ed.D. Superintendent, Mount Vernon School District No. 320