BY ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@yahoo.com

FRANKLIN—Franklin City Public Schools’ academic performance has resulted in City Council’s desire to meet with the School Board.

City Council during its 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, meeting at City Hall will ask to schedule that meeting.

Franklin’s three schools have been placed on an accreditation-warning list, meaning they did not meet all state standards for achievement in English, math, history and science.

S.P. Morton Elementary School students fell below state standards in reading, while J.P. King Middle School and Franklin High School students fell below in math.

The three schools were among 100 out of Virginia’s 1,836 schools to be accredited with warning.

At a work session this week, Mayor Raystine Johnson-Ashburn asked City Manager Randy Martin to set up a meeting between both boards.

Councilman Don Blythe wants the meeting to be held in the council chambers so it can be broadcast over the city’s cable television channel. Blythe said the public has a right to see what goes on during the meeting.

A similar joint meeting held in August was held elsewhere in City Hall and not broadcast.

“It is time for people to voice their opinion,” Blythe said. “Come in during citizens’ time of the city council meeting to voice your concerns and desire for this joint meeting to be open to the public.”

Blythe feels council should’ve acted sooner on the school’s situation, especially now that some parents are asking for Superintendent Dr. Michelle Belle’s resignation.