Board hears CTE expansion, Clark Memorial gains and state legislative update on voucher expansion

Franklin County School District leaders used the board meeting to highlight career-technical education (CTE) expansion, academic gains at Clark Memorial Elementary and several state-level bills that could affect local education funding.

Miss Mitchell, the district’s CTE representative, outlined new and expanding programs: human studies and culinary pathways were added this year, a 632-hour industrial maintenance dual-enrollment pathway with TCAT and industry partners aims to graduate sophomores ready for technical programs, and project-based learning has been integrated across CTE courses. She noted district partnerships with Nissan and TCAT and said one district CTE teacher will represent the district at a national forum in Washington, D.C.

The Clark Memorial principal reported increases in TCAP performance (ELA roughly 39% vs. district 35%; math roughly 45.5% vs. district 35%), noted growth in multiple grades, and said chronic absenteeism improved from about 18% last year to about 5.8% this year. The principal described targeted interventions (RTI, fluid intervention groups), monthly data meetings, and a desire to add staffing and restorative-practice training to support students.

Miss Moore Hensley delivered a legislative update summarizing Governor Lee’s state priorities and the Education Freedom Scholarship program; she cited application counts referenced in the governor's speech and press reports and warned that expanding vouchers could draw state funding away from public schools. She also listed bills to watch, including proposals related to local control over superintendent selection, rules about student searches, and public-comment rights at meetings.

Board members were urged to read the TSBA legislative tracker and contact state legislators if constituents had feedback. The district did not take formal positions in the meeting record but flagged the potential budgetary and accountability effects of voucher expansion.

Next steps: District staff will continue program development and monitor state legislation.