Students’ mission statement, CTE programs and community praise highlighted at Franklin board meeting

At the March 5 Franklin City School Board meeting, the superintendent presented a student-written mission statement and a video of student visits to the State Capitol and highlighted student priorities collected by school teams.

Superintendent Doctor Carter read the mission in full and summarized student requests for personalized learning, stronger early-literacy routines, expanded advanced-placement or AVID coursework, additional world languages beyond Spanish and more hands-on CTE offerings at JP King Technical Academy. She said students "want AP and in-depth forensic science" and asked the board to consider bringing AVID back to the division. (Doctor Carter)

Carter also highlighted division programs she said are improving outcomes: Clear Choice, credited in the presentation with helping lower the dropout rate to about 3%; JP King Technical Academy offerings such as cosmetology, barbering, early childhood education, criminal justice, nursing, business and culinary arts; and CAMP Scholars, a two-year tuition program with 34 students enrolled in its second year. Carter urged board members and parents to support these programs and said, "Do not let the adults who are afraid of change take the children back to darkness." (Doctor Carter)

A community advocate who identified himself as a resident and longtime supporter of the schools praised progress under Carter and explicitly urged the board to renew Carter's contract. The meeting also included thanks to Delegate Darius Clark and Senator Emily Jordan for supporting student opportunities, and to Pastor Wilkins for providing charter buses and jackets for student recognition. (Resident; Board members)

Board members acknowledged the value of out-of-classroom experiences and applauded staff and students for the Capitol trip and other enrichment activities. The superintendent said the division would explore restoring AVID and looking for ways to add languages and career-technical programs requested by students.

The presentation and public remarks framed many of the board's later decisions about approving improvement plans and personnel actions.