Superintendent of MVCSD shares community feedback on budget priorities

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Demario Strickland presented community feedback on budget priorities for the 2026 - 2027 school year to the Board of Education Tuesday evening. The District conducted a survey in December to hear from community members and stakeholders about what they think is essential for the 2026 -27 budget.

Dr. Strickland started by breaking down the participation in the survey. With a total of 1,033 responses, stakeholders from each school, as well as Mount Vernon residents, participated in the survey. Nearly half were parents and guardians throughout the District. Faculty and staff made up a third of those responses, with community members and students making up the rest of participants.

The first question asked to the community was “What changes to programs, services and/or activities would you like the District to consider as the 2026 - 2027 preliminary budget is developed?” 

Many participants highlighted a need for educational support and extracurricular activities, such as improving special education services, and adding more sports and arts programs. There was also an emphasis on the need for improved technology and replacing equipment.

The next section of the survey asked participants to rank what the District should specifically prioritize in the 2026-27 budget. The biggest areas of importance noted were reading specialists, math specialists, mental health resources, technology, building upkeep and playground equipment. 

“These priorities show that our community wants to see a big push for math and reading improvements, while also focusing on the social-emotional wellbeing of our students,” said Dr. Strickland. “Technology is also such an important part of the learning experience these days, and it is clear that we have to continue investing in ways to meet our students' needs.”

Educational programs and services were a big theme in the responses to the survey, with a majority of responses listing reading and math specialists as most important. Participants also suggested reinstating programs like ATLAS and introducing new ones like robotics to enhance student engagement and learning.

Another big theme in responses to the survey was the need for more support and fair compensation for teachers. There was an emphasis on investing in staff retention and providing adequate professional development to ensure effective program implementation. 

“When I came into the District, one of my top priorities was signing fair contracts for all of our bargaining units,” said Dr. Strickland. “That commitment hasn't changed, and we will definitely be prioritizing that in the upcoming budget.”

In terms of infrastructure and facilities, there were several concerns about the physical state of buildings, with specific mentions of necessary repairs and security improvements. Building upkeep and playground equipment were rated as a top priority by 42% of respondents, with safety being the primary concern.

A desire for more extra curricular activities, such as athletics, arts, clubs and after-school programs were also emphasized  in responses. More specifically, athletics was rated as a top priority by 27%, indicating a significant interest in expanding these offerings due to their importance for student development and engagement.

Technology was rated as a top priority in half of survey responses, being seen as an essential part of a student's academic success. Many respondents noted that technology can enhance learning experiences and should be prioritized in budget considerations.

Additional priorities for participants included collective bargaining agreements, athletics, universal preschool, bilingual classes, gifted and talented programs and school specific programs such as International Baccalaureate and Montessori.

The last question in the survey, “What other information would you like the District to know that will help develop next year’s budget?” highlighted the importance of community involvement in budget decisions, as well as transparency and accountability from the District. There were also many similar responses to previous questions with concerns about mental health services and equitable support for all students, including those with disabilities and advanced learners. 

The presentation concluded with important dates on the budget calendar, such as dates for meeting with community and budget stakeholders on February 2 and the budget vote on May 19. Dr. Strickland then answered any questions board members had about the survey findings, as well as his goals with community collaboration in the future. 

“In the future, I want to go beyond surveys and actually do participatory budgeting,” said Dr. Strickland. “That is something that I've instituted in my last district. Once we have a new mission and vision, once we have cleanly cut, outlined goals that are accepted and understood by the community, then we start putting weight onto what things I need to prioritize.”