To the Editor:

Hopefully all members of the Franklin City Council will be guided by race neutral “fairness” and qualifications as they decide upon the respective members of the Franklin School Board, particularly the contentious at-large position currently held by David Benton.

Given that our community’s children’s educational future is heavily impacted by these selections and given the woeful national test scores by U.S. students, particularly in math and science, the stakes have never been higher.

The newest members of the City Council have worked diligently since the last publicly held interview process to get council members back on track and focus once again on race-neutral qualifications and away from what was interpreted by many African Americans as a racially charged, unfortunate reference to chicken by Mr. Benton.

Council’s vote will be a test in part to determine if these efforts on behalf of the educational future of the children within our community have not been in vain.

Failure of council members and our mayor to not be guided by race neutral fairness and qualifications should not be an option.

Chuck Lilley

Franklin