School Board Approves Study of Middle Schools

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer 

At the Jan. 12 meeting of the Franklin County Board of Education, the board voted to allocate funding for a planning study investigating different scenarios and options for renovating the county’s two aging middle schools. The board also approved several policy revisions.

Last November, the capital building planning committee, chaired by North Middle School Principal Stanley Bean, expressed a need for guidance in drawing up plans for renovating the county’s nearly 50-year-old middle schools. After reviewing bids from engineering firms, the committee recommended the board allocate funding for a study by the Nashville based firm Olive, Little, and Gipson, Inc. The firm hopes to have recommendations to present to the board by the end of the school year.

Director of Schools Amy Lonas said proceeds from the sale of the Oak Grove School property will be used to help offset the $29,000 cost of the study. The Oak Grove School property sold for $30,000. The sale proceeds are also being used to rehabilitate property purchased for a soccer practice field at Huntland School.

The board approved four policy revisions. The changes defined circumstances when recording of board meetings would be allowed; set new graduation requirements for special education students; defined the circumstance in which employees are eligible for family and medical leave; and set December ACT scores as the criterion in determining class ranking, rather than April scores.

The board met at Rock Creek Elementary School. Prior to the meeting, the fourth-grade class presented a moving and artfully choreographed musical, Salute to the Military. At the conclusion of the program, members of the audience who served in the military were asked to stand. Among Franklin County educators recognized were Lonas, who served in the Air Force, and Anna Mullin of Sewanee, who served in the Marines. Mullin teaches geometry at Franklin County High School and is the Tennessee School Board Association teacher representative for Franklin County.

Lonas praised Rock Creek Principal Celina Benere for embracing technology as a learning and teaching tool. Benere expressed gratitude for the dedication of Rock Creek teachers and staff who worked together like a “family.” She pointed to several innovative programs at the school. The Rocket Reading Rewards promote “fun” reading by rewarding students for the time they spend reading for pleasure. In the Whole Brain Teaching methodology recently employed on a pilot basis, students engage all five senses in the learning process.

The next meeting is on Feb. 8.