EDITOR’S NOTE: This submission was sent to Knox Pages by Jason Snively, Superintendent, Danville Local Schools.
Mount Vernon Schools are good neighbors
On behalf of Danville Local Schools and all stakeholders I would like to thank the administration, staff and the entire Mount Vernon City School District as well as its supporters for being great neighbors and sharing their time and resources to ensure the surrounding communities have what is needed to serve all stakeholders.
As a small rural community and school district, Danville does not have the resources that can be found in Mount Vernon, which includes facilities and staff to address a variety of issues in the time of need.
Danville Local Schools District, its School Resource Officer along with the administration is always looking to improve the safety of the students, it was recognized that in the time of an active threat the weakness that we had was the reunification process.
Through collaboration with the James Dechant – Knox County EMA Director and Rick Shaffer – Mount Vernon City Schools Director of Security, Danville Local Schools is better prepared than ever to reunify our students with their parents when a need arises.
Thanks to Mount Vernon City Schools, Danville has a secure site and additional staff from Mount Vernon and the county to assist us in making sure students are returned to their parents after a crisis.
Rick and everyone at Mount Vernon City Schools as well as the entire Mount Vernon Community have always been willing to share resources and welcome us to their site and resources.
On another note, it is also worth mentioning about the generosity and hospitality that Mount Vernon City Schools and their administration/staff have exhibited in the fact that they have allowed us to use their football stadium and facilities to host our first two home football playoff games.
Our sod/grass field was torn up as we played the Devil-Dog game in Week 10 and it turned into the mud bowl. With that event and continued rain the field is not conducive for safe play this time of the year.
All it took was a phone call to Justin Sanford (Mount Vernon Athletic Director) early on Saturday morning following the Devil-Dog game and we shared that we would need somewhere to play our first playoff game and he immediately went to work advocating for us and getting things ready for us to host the game at their facility the following Friday.
Even though it is not our home field our players and fans feel at home using the awesome facilities that the Mount Vernon Community has provided.
As a large number of Danville residents work, shop and are a part of the Mount Vernon community during the day, it is nice to know that we are recognized and supported by the Mount Vernon Community in all aspects of our lives.
It is also great to be a part of a county, where in the time of need and no matter where you live the resources in Mount Vernon are extended to those who work, shop and pay taxes in the county. We are proud to be a thriving small school and community, but we are also proud to be a part of the greater Mount Vernon area.
Thanks to Mount Vernon City Schools for being great neighbors and thanks to all the businesses and community members in the Mount Vernon area for supporting our schools and students.
You are supporting a greater cause than just you own community, which will benefit you and the entire county now and in the future.