Residents, educators press Franklin City Council for answers after high school principal reassigned

Dozens of parents, teachers and former colleagues urged the Franklin City Council on Feb. 24 to press the school board for answers after Franklin High School’s principal was reassigned, and several speakers said students and staff have been harmed by district decisions.

The public forum focused on the reassignment and on an incentive program some speakers said allowed students to skip class periods and use personal phones. Carrie Johnson, a former school board member, said Franklin High School principal Travis — identified in public comments with several spellings — met his performance standards and that removing a principal midyear harms students and teachers. “Research shows that removing a high school principal in the middle of the year hurts students, causes teachers to leave, and creates chaos in schools,” Johnson said.

Why it matters: Speakers said the principal’s reassignment has shaken trust in school leadership and could affect student learning and community recruitment. Several speakers urged the city council to call the school board to account or convene a joint meeting so elected officials and parents can obtain direct answers.

Speakers at citizens time described the principal as a long‑standing community presence and advocate for students. Don Spengeman, who said he works with the principal as a building administrator, described him as a “hands on principal who nurtures the success of all students,” and said the principal continued to attend student events after reassignment.

Multiple speakers said the district introduced an “incentive program” that allowed a student to “chill on your phone for an entire block” or miss an entire block of instruction; several speakers called that practice a violation of policy and cited Governor’s Executive Order No. 33 as authority restricting phone use in schools. Don Spengeman said the incentives were presented after students demonstrated to keep the principal, and called the incentives “a clear violation” of division policy and of Executive Order No. 33.

Councilmembers and the mayor acknowledged the public concern and urged the school board to meet with city officials, parents and students. Doctor Johnson, a councilmember, said citizens and council “deserve an answer.” Mayor Kaplan and other councilmembers praised the protesters’ restraint and urged all parties to avoid escalation.

What the council did: Council members did not reverse any personnel actions at the meeting. The council voted to enter a closed session later in the agenda under Virginia Code § 2.2‑3711(a)(1) for discussions of prospective candidates for employment (the motion as stated in the meeting records the statutory basis but does not identify any specific candidate). Several council members also publicly called for a joint meeting with the school board; the city manager reported that the school board must agree to such a meeting and that the board’s next scheduled meeting was later in the month.

Votes at a glance (formal actions taken during the meeting): - Consent agenda: approved (Doctor Johnson recorded an abstention on the consent vote because he said he had not been present for an item). - Declaration of local emergency (winter storm "Kingston"): approved. The city manager said the declaration would allow the city to seek reimbursement if the governor releases disaster funds. - Honorary street‑naming policy resolution: approved. Council members clarified the policy creates honorary name signage above existing street names and does not change legal street names or postal addresses. - Hay cutting license agreement (John Beverly Rose Airport and Hash Family Farms): approved. - Appointment of Mark Bly to the Virginia Municipal Electric Association (VMEA): approved. - Motion to convene a closed meeting under Va. Code § 2.2‑3711(a)(1) for discussion of prospective candidates for employment: approved; the council reconvened and certified the closed session pursuant to Va. Code § 2.2‑3712.

Community context and next steps: Speakers asked the city council to use its appointment authority over the school board to demand transparency or to call for accountability. Council members repeatedly said the school board controls superintendent evaluation and personnel matters and must agree to any joint meeting; they asked the board to meet with council and community representatives "as soon as possible." The city manager said the requested town‑hall style meeting had been canceled by the school board and that the council had no unilateral authority to force that meeting.

The meeting closed with council members urging calm and patience and encouraging parents and students to remain peaceful while officials work toward answers. Several speakers said they will continue to press the school board and district for an explanation and for the return of stable leadership at Franklin High School.