At the Peekskill City School District’s year‑end meeting, trustees and community leaders held a program recognizing Michael J. Simpkins for 23 years on the board of education.

Superintendent David Mauricio opened the program by calling it “a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the work that we do collectively as a community, and also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a very important person who has sat at this dais for 23 years.” The event included student performances, athletic recognitions and a series of proclamations from local and state officials.

Why it matters: Board trustees and administrators said Simpkins’s tenure coincided with major capital projects, program expansions and rising graduation rates. Speakers credited long‑term board continuity and community support for enabling recent investments in playgrounds, an indoor turf facility, new classrooms and high school improvements.

State and local leaders who presented recognitions included Senator Peter Harkem, Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie and Westchester County Legislator Colin Smith. Harkem presented “a proclamation for you honoring students of Peekskill, your lifetime of service,” and said the district’s state aid increased during recent years. Mayor McKenzie read a city proclamation citing Simpkins’s years of service and community leadership. Colin Smith read a county proclamation designating 06/18/2025 as “Michael J. Simpkins Day in Westchester County.”

School leaders and partners highlighted recent district investments while honoring Simpkins. Speakers noted a $30,000 assembly grant for the high‑school theater program, a $2,400,000 grant supporting the high‑school early college program that can allow students to earn 24 credits or an associate degree, and local fundraising by the Peekskill Education Foundation and Rotary Club for STEAM and courtyard projects.

Michael J. Simpkins spoke about long‑term district efforts and milestones. He cited three highlights from his tenure—the Princeton Plan, the middle‑school construction and sustained capital work that he said helped raise the district’s graduation rate from about 45 percent when he joined the board. “When I got on the school board, the graduation rate was at 45 percent,” Simpkins said.

Family members, district staff, former colleagues and civic groups presented plaques, a board lifetime achievement award and other recognitions. The board also showed a short video montage of Simpkins’s service and student performances, and the district announced a small schedule pause before resuming regular meeting business.

The program included a mix of ceremonial and substantive remarks about district investments and programs; no formal board action on policy or budget items took place during the tribute portion of the meeting.

Looking ahead: Simpkins said he plans to remain involved in the community; speakers noted he will continue to serve Peekskill as a BOCES representative. The board moved on after a short recess to complete the regular meeting agenda.