CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – While it’s too early to tell exactly where enrollment numbers will land, as of Aug. 8, the first half-day of school, there are around 39,400 students registered with Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools, said district spokesman Anthony Johnson.

“Last year, we ended the school year with around 37,500 students. We will know in the coming weeks if this almost 2,000-student increase is an accurate enrollment figure for the 2022-23 school year,” he said.

This year’s focus

With a new director at the helm this year, Jean Luna-Vedder, Johnson said in an emailed response to Clarksville Now that there are some key areas of focus.

“Entering her first year as the director of schools, Dr. Luna-Vedder has an urgent focus on the following key areas,” Johnson said:

  • Academic focus on literacy and math with key performance indicators in elementary, middle and high school.
  • Postsecondary success measures to ensure our students are graduating prepared for high-demand, high-wage careers aligned to individual aptitude and interests.
  • Recruitment, and even more importantly, retention of faculty and staff members.
  • Building a positive culture throughout the district with a spirit of collaboration.
  • Focusing on meeting individual student needs to strengthen discipline and order.
  • Strong communication internally and externally to ensure everyone understands the mission and vision and how they contribute to the success of our students.
  • Working collaboratively with local law enforcement to provide safe schools.

New programs

New programs have been implemented to assist students coping post-pandemic.

“In the 2022-23 budget, we have included additional social workers, school counselors and psychologists, as well as additional support for Alternative School and other student support programs as we address the escalating behaviors observed over the past few years,” Johnson said.

One incident in particular caught the attention of both school officials and the community when a principal was assaulted by an irate parent during a meeting at the school. Several other incidents of violence in schools last year have become the focus of discussion and debate.

“Additionally, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has added seven additional SROs to its budget. Consistently in our messaging to families this year, we have reiterated the importance of having conversations with students about appropriate behaviors and school safety. CMCSS launched its School Safety Hub this year to provide families with important information about CMCSS’ safety and security measures,” Johnson said.