by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the Aug. 10 meeting of the Franklin County School Board, Director of Schools Amie Lonas talked about her plans “to push some of the decision-making down to the school level, both the principals and teachers.”
Since assuming responsibility as director on July 1, Lonas has met with all the school principals and many of the faculty to share her leadership philosophy. Lonas said teachers seemed enthusiastic about having more autonomy in the classroom.
“I want the teachers to take ownership,” Lonas said, “but with ownership comes responsibility for performance and test scores.”
Lonas proposed the school board hold some of its meetings at the schools, to give the board members an opportunity to visit all the schools in the county. The board approved the suggestion. Lonas will draft a meeting location schedule.
Assistant superintendent Linda Foster said all certified positions were filled for the 2015–16 school year, with the exception of a new position for a second-grade teacher at North Lake Elementary School. Interviews would begin tomorrow, Foster said.
Lonas said enrollment had increased by more than 200 students in just the past few weeks.
“Our current enrollment is only one student less than last year.” Sewanee has two very large classes, Lonas said, as did several other schools. Additional teachers may be needed.
In her financial report, Lonas said the school system finished the 2014–15 school year without drawing on the fund balance held in reserve for when expense exceeds revenue.
Negotiations are continuing with the Franklin County Commission for operating budget debt relief. At a July 27 meeting with the commission’s school committee, the commission asked the school board to draft a debt relief resolution taking into account the commission’s concerns. The commission is reluctant to lock the county into a long-term commitment based on sales tax, which can fluctuate widely from year to year.
The next meeting of the school board is Sept. 14.
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