Council briefed on school funding gap as residents raise safety and conduct complaints about district leadership

Franklin City officials told the council on April 14 that final state attendance counts could require the city to increase its local school appropriation by several hundred thousand dollars for fiscal-year 2025 and 2026, while multiple citizens used the public-comment period to sharply criticize recent school-district conduct decisions and safety protocols.

City staff summarized the Franklin City Public Schools' submitted budget and recommended city adjustments. "What you have before you is the request that we received from the schools," the city manager said, describing a $21.9 million package the schools presented that the staff broke down as roughly $14.4 million from the state, $1.35 million federal and $4.9 million local operating needs, plus a $250,000 capital request. Staff told council it adjusted the school submission to reflect federal transfers into textbook and nutrition funds and to avoid double-counting revenue.

The manager warned that updated state calculations tied to average daily membership (ADM) could increase the local required share. "For 25 we could be facing over a half a million," the manager said, later clarifying she recommended $4.8 million in local support while the schools' request totaled about $5.1 million. Staff said it will wait for the statefinal counts (March ADM and subsequent reconciliations) before bringing a formal increase request to council.

During the regular session's citizens time, multiple speakers raised separate concerns about the school system:

- Brenda Peterson, who identified herself as a longtime educator, said teacher morale is low at Franklin High School because teachers are regularly pulled from planning periods to cover classes without pay and raised safety alarms over unlocked classroom doors she said the superintendent required to remain open.

- Pam Lee and Teresa Gary raised questions about facility decisions, transportation, costs and alleged mistreatment of staff. They also described recent discipline and trespass actions by district leadership.

- Whitney Hill and Lamont Hill said Lamont Hill received a formal no-trespass letter dated April 9, 2025, from superintendent Dr. Carlton Carter banning him from Franklin City Public Schools properties. Whitney Hill called the letter unjust and said her husband is a longtime coach who regularly supports students at events. Lamont Hill read the notice in public, which cites an alleged role in encouraging student walkouts and warns that unauthorized presence could be treated as trespassing.

Lamont Hill told the council he has worked with Franklin students for six years in coaching and youth programs and asked the council to help reverse the directive. The transcript shows Lamont Hill said the letter prohibits him "from entering or being present on any property owned, operated, or affiliated with Franklin City Public Schools without prior written authorization from the superintendent," effective April 9, 2025.

Councilors and staff did not make a formal determination on the trespass notice during the meeting. The mayor and several council members acknowledged the complaints and asked staff to ensure timely, ward-level notification when significant incidents occur. The city manager said school administration representatives (for example, the superintendent or finance director) may appear at future council meetings or provide documentation when the schools request additional funds.

No vote on an increased school appropriation occurred at the session; staff said they will bring a formal request under the city manager's report if the statenumbers require it.