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Franklin Middle School outlines attendance, mental‑health supports and new after‑school clubs

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Summary

Principal Pringle told the Wayne‑Westland board that Franklin Middle School is targeting chronic absenteeism through an attendance‑monitor position, 20‑minute SEL homerooms, on‑site mental‑health services and a new slate of after‑school clubs funded by community partners.

Principal Dina Pringle presented a comprehensive update on Franklin Middle School’s student supports and academic progress, telling the board the school’s “average daily attendance is at 87%” and that staff are targeting chronically absent students with individualized plans.

Pringle said Franklin runs a 20‑minute social‑emotional learning (SEL) homeroom that continued under a two‑year contract deviation with near‑unanimous teacher support. She described mental‑health staffing that includes two full‑time counselors and 1.5 shared social workers and said approximately 20% of students receive ongoing mental‑health services.

To address absenteeism, the school has partnered with Wayne Youth Services and created an attendance‑monitor position focused on early intervention and family engagement. “Our goal with the attendance monitor is to help put together individualized attendance plans, which will include incentives for the student,” Pringle said during question time.

Pringle highlighted community partnerships that provide grief counseling (New Hope) and the Guidance Center running weekly tier‑2 small groups (friendship groups, conflict‑resolution groups). She told the board that the school piloted homeroom SEL lessons and that teacher peer‑observations across secondary buildings are building instructional capacity.

Board members praised the student‑centered approach and asked practical questions about family outreach, English‑learner populations and supports for homeless or transient students; Pringle replied the school is collecting “street data” via student, family and teacher surveys to tailor interventions. Directors also encouraged leveraging local industries for field trips and noted the role after‑school clubs can play in building relationships that encourage attendance.

The presentation included assessment data: the school set a goal for at least 50% of students to meet individual NWEA growth targets; Pringle reported 54% of sixth graders, 44% of seventh graders and 50% of eighth graders are on track to meet that building goal.

Next steps: the board did not take action on the presentation but thanked staff and asked administrators to continue outreach and bring follow‑up items as needed.