Franklin board preliminarily adopts Neola policy set and removes proposed limit on public comment

The Franklin Board of Education gave preliminary approval to the first batch of policies being converted to Neola and struck a proposed restriction that would have limited community comment to topics listed on that meeting’s posted agenda.

The policy committee presented the conversion plan, which will be rolled out in five batches and brought back to the full board for final approval on Feb. 4, 2026, with the new policy book effective July 1, 2026. The contested provision — identified in the packet as paragraph 167.3, subsection h — would have read, in committee review, that “participants shall address only topics listed on the current meeting agenda.” Committee members and board members debated whether the change would improve meeting efficiency and protect the board or unduly curtail public voice.

“Participants shall address only topics listed on the current meeting agenda,” a committee member read from the draft policy. Board member Angie (first referenced in the transcript as a voting member) said she had moved from initial opposition to support because directing speakers to the appropriate staff or principal could better resolve many concerns, while Linda (board member) argued the existing public-comment practice is the community’s primary chance to be heard and that limiting it would be awkward and possibly alienating.

The board discussed alternative approaches — for example, keeping broad comment but adding guardrails in administrative rules (time limits or a prelude announcing the scope of topics), scheduling a separate open-forum comment period, or using an early 'board members present' window before formal meetings to hear community concerns. Several members referenced models used elsewhere, including a district that provides two comment periods — one focused on agenda items and one open forum at the end of a meeting.

After discussion, a motion to give the batch preliminary approval and to strike subsection h of policy 167.3 passed by voice vote. The board president announced, “All in favor? Aye.” The motion carried.

Under the adopted plan, the district administrative team will continue to review and refine administrative rules and will return to the board with subsequent policy batches and final approval in February.

Votes at the Sept. 10 meeting on policy items were preliminary approvals; the board will review the full policy book and any flagged items at the final February meeting before policies take effect July 1, 2026.