Students describe JAG benefits; district proposes LEAP waiver to continue services if state funding ends

Students in Franklin Community High School's JAG program told the board how the class boosted confidence, leadership and career readiness, and urged the district to sustain the work.

Diana Hayes, JAG specialist, introduced the students and framed the presentation. Senior Amamira Anthony told the board, "JAG is a place where we feel supported, encouraged, [and] challenged to grow," and several other students described career fairs, community service projects and leadership experiences that they said prepared them for life after high school.

Administrators told the board that the state's JAG program remains uncertain and presented a locally created alternative called LEAP (Leadership, Employability, Achievement, Purpose). Ryan Wagner explained the district's plan to submit a non-standard (CTE) course waiver to the Indiana Department of Education to preserve similar programming: the state has a May 1 deadline for waivers to be considered for the coming school year, and the state typically provides a roughly 45-day response window.

Board members asked process questions about licensure and whether the district would co-apply; administration said the waiver is district-specific and that staff are working with Central Nine (C9) and using Greenfield Central's framework as a model. No formal vote on the waiver was recorded during the public meeting; the board heard the proposal and will consider submission and follow-up steps.

Next steps outlined in discussion included arranging teacher licensure for the course, finalizing the submission packet and monitoring the state review timeline.