By K.G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer
The Franklin County school board met in a regular session on Nov. 12 to discuss the report card results from the state, award the bid on Sewanee Elementary renovations and consider a resolution regarding federal sequestration of funds.
Broadview and North Lake elementary schools were recognized at the meeting for achieving Reward Status from the state, based on performance from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program Achievement Test.
“Three other schools are receiving letters from the state for almost qualifying as reward schools,” said Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber. “These letters will outline where the schools missed reward status on testing.”
Clark Memorial Elementary and Franklin County High School almost qualified as reward schools, based on progress. Sewanee Elementary almost qualified as a reward school, based on performance.
“We have made progress on testing, as none of the schools in Franklin County were identified as focus or priority schools,” said Sharber. “We have grown in math and social studies, and need to do better in reading/language arts.”
“We have seen progress in achievement. ACT tests are down for us and in area counties, except for Tullahoma. Science scores are down across the state, the district and in area counties,” said Sharber.
Sharber said if she had to guess why science scores were down it “may be because the curriculum is not matching the test. Also, elementary students are spending more time on math and reading.”
Sain Construction was awarded the bid for renovations on Sewanee Elementary, which now includes bids for a metal roof and gutter guards. The rainwater harvesting system has been removed from the bid. Sharber reported the contracts still have to be signed and a workable schedule between the contractor and Mike Maxon, principal of SES, still has to be created.
The school board budget was also amended to move money from the fund balance to the capital outlay budget line to pay for the SES renovations. The county commission will have to approve the budget amendment that has the funding for this project in it. The next meeting of the county commission is Dec. 3.
In discussion on a resolution regarding federal sequestration, Sharber reported that a letter from the Tennessee School Board Association urged school boards to adopt the resolution and present a unified front in opposing budget cuts to federal programs outlined in the Budget Control Act of 2011.
The resolution states, in part, “Franklin County School System urges Congress and the Administration to amend the Budget Control Act to mitigate the drastic cuts to education that would affect our students and communities, and to protect education as an investment critical to economic stability and American competitiveness.”
The full resolution can be viewed at <http://www.boarddocs.com/tn/franklin/Board.nsf/files/8ZNLTA580587/$file/Sequestration%20Resolution.pdf>.
“If federal funding is cut, it is going to hurt us all,” Sharber said. “As a county, we would lose approximately $237,000 in funding for programs such as Title I grants for disadvantaged students and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Action.” The board approved the resolution.
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