Franklin SSD board adopts therapy dog policy, expands elementary activity requirement and updates substitute and nonresident attendance rules

At a meeting of the Franklin Special District board, members approved several policy changes affecting student services, staffing and enrollment rules.

The board approved second reading of Policy 3.2181, the district's new therapy dog program policy, adopted revisions to the district's student wellness policy (6.411) to reflect a state change in required elementary physical activity, raised the substitute-teacher certification threshold in Policy 5.701, and clarified the scope of the nonresident student attendance policy (6.204).

Why it matters: the policy actions change day-to-day operations in schools ' establishing a formal framework for therapy animals, increasing the elementary physical activity requirement to a per-day standard, tightening substitute certification after extended assignments, and clarifying which grade levels are covered by the district's nonresident attendance rules.

Board action and main details

Therapy dog program (Policy 3.2181). Doctor Snowden recommended approval of the second reading and the board approved the policy without further amendment. Doctor Smooten asked whether district language had been adapted from the Tennessee School Boards Association model; Doctor Snowden replied that the district had added language to the TSBA skeleton so other districts might use it. The board approved the second reading by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Student wellness (Policy 6.411). Doctor Snowden said the change reflects a state law update: elementary students'previously governed by a 130-minute weekly standard'are now required to receive 40 minutes of physical activity each full school day. Middle- and high-school requirements remain at 90 minutes per full school week, he said. Miss Parker noted the district will continue to provide daily physical education for elementary students and thanked staff and principals for schedule adjustments to meet the new requirement. The board approved the second reading by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded.

Substitute personnel (Policy 5.701). The board adopted, on first reading with waiver of a second reading, a change recommended by TSBA legal review: the required certification threshold was increased from 20 to 30 consecutive days. After 30 consecutive days on an assignment, the substitute must possess a teaching certificate with the appropriate endorsement or be a retired teacher who held the appropriate endorsement. The board approved adoption on first reading and waived a second reading by voice vote.

Attendance of nonresident students (Policy 6.204). The revision clarifies that references to nonresident students in this policy apply to grades K'8. The policy further states the Franklin SSD special education preschool peer-model program has separate enrollment guidelines and is not included in the K'8 enrollment program. The board moved to adopt on first reading and waive second reading; the motion passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Policy 3.2181, Therapy dog program: approved (second reading); motion and second recorded; voice vote, "all in favor" recorded, no roll call tally provided. - Policy 6.411, Positive Vision Student Wellness: approved (second reading) to reflect state law change requiring 40 minutes of physical activity per full elementary school day; voice vote, no roll-call tally provided. - Policy 5.701, Substitute personnel: adopted on first reading with waiver of second reading; certification requirement changed from 20 to 30 consecutive days; voice vote, no roll-call tally provided. - Policy 6.204, Attendance of nonresident students: adopted on first reading with waiver of second reading; clarifies K'8 scope and excludes the special education preschool peer-model program; voice vote, no roll-call tally provided.

Other business and district reports

Director of schools report: opening day and programs. In the Director of Schools report, the district's opening-day events and professional-learning schedule were summarized. The report noted keynote remarks by Dr. Anthony Mohammed at the opening-day program held at Rolling Hills Community Church, and recognized Callie Alexander of Franklin Elementary as the district's TSBA Mid-Cumberland volunteer nominee. The Director also shared that the district's first sales-tax collection for the new fiscal year rose month to month by 1.6 percent.

Summer feeding and programs. The Director reported a total of 7,510 breakfasts and 13,232 lunches served during 38 weekdays between May 27 and July (end date not specified in the report). Johnson Elementary was listed as an open site; at that site the report recorded 72 children and 2 adult meals served for breakfast and 58 children and 51 adult meals served for lunch (the transcript did not specify whether those site totals are daily counts, program totals or a different measure). The Summer MAC program enrolled 276 students in grades K'8; StoryBus visits reached approximately 265 children through a partnership with Kroger and three weekly stops.

What board members said. Miss Parker emphasized the district's continued practice of daily elementary physical education and praised principals and PE teachers for adapting schedules. Doctor Smooten asked whether the district adapted TSBA language in the therapy-dog policy; Doctor Snowden confirmed the district had modified the TSBA model.

The meeting concluded with routine announcements and adjournment.