Mount Vernon High School principal Brooke Tharp presented the building-level portion of the district’s strategic plan and reported a new Early College Network grant intended to expand students’ access to dual-credit and early college certification.

Tharp said the school’s top goal is fostering a sense of belonging so "every student has at least 1 adult who connects with them on a regular basis." She detailed specific objectives and metrics: increase teacher credentialing for dual credit by approximately one teacher per year, raise dual credits earned by 5% annually (noting recent year-over-year figures presented in the packet), and grow trade-certification outcomes by 5% annually. Tharp reported the district had 1,815 dual credits earned in 2023–24 and 937 in 2024–25 as presented, and she described efforts to add courses in core subject areas that apply toward the Indiana College Core.

Tharp announced the district was awarded $120,000 in Early College Network grant dollars over five years to support teachers and counselors, expand dual-credit offerings, and help students earn Indiana College Core certification and, ultimately, associate degrees. She said the grant cohort will begin with the current eighth-grade class and will include supports for teacher training and counseling.

The presentation included other targets (increasing trade certifications, improving SAT and college-readiness benchmarks, and developing a personalized four-year plan for grades 8–12). Board members asked clarifying questions about how plans are shared with counselors, students and parents; Tharp said the plan is a working document shared with students and counselors and that parent access is being developed.