CITY SCHOOLS | Mohip orders staff to keep hourly attendance totals

YOUNGSTOWN — Krish Mohip, city schools chief executive officer, started his first day of school this morning at Discovery Transition to Careers at Volney.

He sat at a cafeteria table among students as school administrators explained to the young people what to expect and what is expected this school year.

Later, teachers, administrators and staff greeted students at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School with cheers and pompoms.

At MLK, Mohip discussed transportation problems with several parents. Parents complained about not getting information about their children's bus schedule and their children having to walk long distances to school.

"We've just updated our routes for the first time in 14 years," Mohip told two parents.

He explained that the first day is usually chaotic.

He provided the phone number of the district's transportation department so the parents can get their problems addressed.

At Mohip's next stop, in introducing himself to East High School students, he told them that they have the same average ACT scores as Chaney.

"I need you to love yourself enough to let yourself be successful," he said.

Tyrone Olverson, district academic officer, told East freshmen that their legacy begins at school.

"If you fail, we failed you," he said. "If you fail, we're not doing our job."

By late morning Mohip told The Vindicator it may take a few weeks to learn if the district met his 98 percent attendance goal today, He directed staff to update today's figures hourly.

He said he plans to block out 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily so he can visit schools to view instruction in classrooms as well as experience each school's culture to determine how to improve the district.

Mohip also said he wants to improve how school personnel deal with parents.

"As a whole district, we need to work on customer support," he said.

If someone calls central office, someone should follow up within 24 hours, Mohip said.