Mount Vernon-Lisbon
INSIDE | 11-18
SPORTS | 27 & 28
Mount Vernon & Lisbon High Schools Class of 2025
Track: Mount Vernon & Lisbon advance events to state
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THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025 • $1.50
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Mount Vernon Schools pass first reading of cell phone ban
Lisbon graduates 56 Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Policy needs to be in place by July 1
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Mount Vernon passed the first reading of a district wide policy that would spell out when students can use cell phones and smart watches while at school. Superintendent Matt Leeman said they had original guidance from the Iowa Association of School Boards they were going with for their policy, but the Iowa Department of Education released their guidance shortly after that was a little more lenient in some areas. Leeman said the district has had conversations with students, staff, members of the administrative team, took the idea to the district roundtable for discussion two weeks ago as well. “We’ve taken a lot of feedback to develop a policy that fits our district,” Leeman said. The policy spells out what wearable devices are and smart electronic devices are as well, and limits access to them during instructional time. Lunch is not an instructional time. Passing time also does not constitute instructional time. Leeman said that the goal was to have communication with students during the school day handled by the district office, like it was done years ago. That can be done by emailing or calling the office to relay the information to students. Parents will be contacted via their preferred method of communication as well. If there is something impacting the entire school district, not just a single student, the district will use notifications like School Messenger. The first draft spelled out the consequences for elementary, middle school and high school students for misusing a cell phone or watch. In elementary grades, the devices are to be kept in backpacks from the beginning of the day to the end of the day. If a student is discovered with a device, teachers will confiscate the device and return it to students at the end of the day BAN | 2
INSIDE Mount Vernon-Lisbon
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Lisbon held commencement exercises at the Lisbon Lion’s Den Sunday, May 18. A total of 56 students received diplomas. Lisbon secondary principal Jack Leighty said that he has come to enjoy the class of 2025. “I just know that on any Tuesday or Thursday, I had to be monitoring the student section, as they rooted on the volleyball players,” Leighty said. “Mostly, it was keeping them off the court.” Leighty said the class had an average GPA of 3.425, and were well represented at post-season competitions by the class. Wesley Sadler was the valedictorian of the class. He made light jokes about the speed with which students exit the parking lot at the end of the school day, noting he has been in three crashes, none of which were his fault. He also joked about some classmates who found ways to get out of their classwork in ingenuous ways. “You have to admire the hustle,” he said. His last bit of advice for students, though, was a home run.
Mortarboards take to the sky at Lisbon Sunday, May 18.
GRADUATION | 20
Mount Vernon seniors reflect on past four years
Nathan Countryman | Mount VernonLisbon Sun
Commencement for MV Sunday, May 25 at 2 p.m. Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Mount Vernon’s senior roundtable featured Colin Bentley, Josef Briesemeister, Seamus O’Connor, Cana Safo, Lauren Hepker, Hailey Bock and Paige Schurbon. Topics discussed include favorite activities, favorite memories, what they’ll miss, favorite teachers/coaches and their impact, advice to younger classmates and hopes for the SENIORS | 2
Opinions - 4 & 5 | Records - 7
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23 | Public Notices - 24 & 25 | Sports - 25-28
(From left) Lauren Hepker, Cana Safo, Hailey Bock, Seamus O’Connor (standing in back row), Paige Schurbon, Josef Briesemeister and Colin Bentley were members of this year’s Mount Vernon senior roundtable. Mount Vernon graduation is Sunday, May 25, at 2 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School gymnasium.