FRANKLIN—The Franklin School Board voted 5-2 Thursday not to promote S.P. Morton Elementary School Assistant Principal Lisa Francis to principal.

In related matters, J.P. King Middle School Principal Angela Byrd-Wright resigned. She was hired last year to replace Jeremy Knapp.

Chairman Bill Scarboro and Board Member Will Councill supported hiring Francis, who would’ve replaced retiring Principal Don Spengeman.

“I think she’s deserving of the job,” Councill said Friday about the 16-year veteran educator.

“She’s learned from the best.”

Board Member Glenn Hopkins favored not promoting Francis, noting she was the only candidate presented to the board and they wanted to see more.

“There were a lot of questions that weren’t answered,” Hopkins said

He couldn’t say whether that meant she might be reconsidered.

Spengeman supported Francis for the job.

“Mrs. Francis and I are professional educators and wouldn’t make comments that are divisive or negatively impact the school division,” Spengeman said.

Francis was hired as an assistant principal in 2007 after 10 years as a an English teacher at J.P. King Middle School.