Franklin task force spotlights co'op expansion, student safety concerns and teacher burnout

Mister Wagner told the task force the district is expanding work'based learning and co'op opportunities and expects more than 100 seniors to take a co'op next year. "Next year, we are looking at having over 100 seniors that will be taking co op next year from your record scores. We've never had over a 100," he said, and added the program aligns with the state's push for more real'world learning during junior and senior years.

Wagner described how the district prepares employer partners: co'op teacher Tom Gay meets with businesses to set expectations and to ensure placements are educational rather than simply providing free labor. "We meet with them and go through those expectations," Wagner said, noting the district has developed partnerships (including a new opportunity at the Cub Academy for early'education pathway students).

On student safety, Wagner said the district and regional law enforcement have raised alarms about disguised drug products that resemble candy. "We met with the narcotics team from Johnson County Sheriff's Office, last week... I was scared shitless," he said, describing gummy products that children might mistake for ordinary candy and that have prompted EMT responses at school.

Wagner also described teacher stress and retention challenges: "They are burned out. They are tired. They're overwhelmed," he said, noting heavy out'of'hours workload, emotional burden and the cumulative effect of negative public discourse around schools.

Task force members asked practical questions about implementation. A parent asked how students will complete the workplace learning hours for honors'plus seals; Wagner said counselors and counselors' platforms will guide students through required experiences and that the senior project can fulfill pathway requirements if seals are not completed. The district also mentioned a pending state grant application intended to fund a parent'engagement platform; the meeting materials said the district will learn the grant outcome in June.

Why it matters: Expanding co'op placements and employer partnerships can increase career readiness, but the district will need employer training, careful supervision and robust parent communication. The safety concern about disguised drug products adds urgency to prevention and response planning.

Next steps: District staff said they will continue building employer partnerships, use counselor tools (a Graduation Pathways platform) to track student progress, and follow up with families after the district learns whether the state grant application is successful in June.