Dr. Demario Strickland, superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District, told the board Sept. 30 that a district climate survey shows only about half of students feel supported by central leadership and that staff report a perception of low support and transparency from district administrators. "Only half of our students feel supported by district leadership," Dr. Strickland said, adding that the district must improve communication, curriculum and supports for its most vulnerable students.

The survey results were the centerpiece of Strickland’s September report. He said 65% of respondents believe their school promotes a culture of diversity, 81% said teachers care about them, and 77% of students reported having at least one adult in school they can trust. The superintendent framed the findings as a starting point for changes the district will pursue: better communications, targeted curriculum work and stepped-up support for English language learners and students with disabilities.

Strickland also outlined personnel and enrollment pressures. He said the district currently has "over 40 vacancies" for administrators, classroom teachers and teaching assistants, and nearly 20 openings for nurses, security guards, lunch monitors and clerical staff. Since July 1 the district has registered more than 700 students and placed over 600, he said, and administrators are adding sections and classrooms to accommodate the influx.

On career and technical education, Strickland described a new cybersecurity pathway that offers three courses — IT Essentials, Network Routing and Switching, and Cybersecurity — for which students can earn college credit. "Many thanks to our CTE director Bridal Simmons and everyone involved in this exciting program," he said.

Trustees pressed for timelines and data. "We can't wait too long... the clock is ticking for them," Trustee Kelly said, urging quick results on overcrowding and scheduling. Trustee Peterson asked for building capacity and enrollment counts; Dr. Strickland said official BEDS reporting begins the next day and offered a target of providing a cleaned, districtwide capacity/enrollment report by the end of the month. The superintendent acknowledged the district’s scheduling system is inconsistent — some schools use A/B days, others A–F — which complicates sharing staff across buildings.

Trustees and the superintendent discussed translation and services for families whose primary language is Spanish. Trustee McDonough suggested testing real-time translation devices for registrations; Strickland said the district previously used translating headsets but that funding is limited and Title III grant funds do not cover all language-access needs. The district website already has an agenda-translation feature, he said.

The superintendent said building leaders have begun meet-and-greets and new student socials to ease transitions after recent building consolidations and said some principals reported smooth starts despite the challenges. Strickland closed his report by inviting questions and committing to follow-up reports.

Board members applauded some early signs of progress while emphasizing urgency. Several trustees said they want quarterly benchmarks to track progress on staffing, scheduling, special education compliance and curriculum work.

Dr. Strickland concluded: "We are committed to tackling the concerns that were raised in the survey," and asked for the board’s patience as the administration addresses immediate operational needs while pursuing longer-term changes.