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Franklin City School Board approves special‑education plan, budgets small grant increases and awards HVAC contract amid heated public safety complaints
Summary
After an initial tie on the agenda, the Franklin City School Board approved the special‑education annual plan and a budget amendment, directed staff to study a proposed 4% pay increase, awarded an HVAC contract for S.P. Morton and heard extended public comment alleging safety failures in special‑education classrooms.
The Franklin City School Board recessed briefly after an initial 3‑3 tie on approving the meeting agenda but reconvened and moved forward with staff reports and votes at its April 16 meeting.
The board approved the school division's IDEA (special education) annual plan for 2026–27 after a presentation by Dr. Crutchfield, who said the plan is built on an enrollment base used for funding estimates and outlines allowable uses: personnel, employee benefits, purchased services, and supplies dedicated to students with disabilities. "The current year we are allotted 395,000 approximately," Dr. Crutchfield said, describing the distribution of funds and recent investments such as a sensory room at S.P. Morton and iPads for nonverbal students.
Board members asked for clarification on timelines, the number of students receiving services and whether long‑term substitutes were counted among returning teachers; Dr. Crutchfield said the report reflects teachers and that further detail on licensure status could be provided. A motion to approve the annual special‑education plan carried…
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