by Kelvin Edwards Sr.

As the interim superintendent, I have the privilege of leading our outstanding employees and our extraordinary families and students through a challenging chapter in our school division’s storybook. My pledge has been and will always be to provide transparency and truth.

Our City Council, Mayor, and City Manager are moving swiftly to appoint a new School Board to ensure clarity and certainty around the governance of the school division. The City Council will be accepting nominations at its meeting on Nov. 28, followed by interviews and appointments. The goal is to have a majority of the School Board appointed by its next meeting on Dec. 12. I sincerely appreciate their support and commitment to our schools and families.

Franklin City Public Schools has a moral and legal obligation to our taxpayers to spend their dollars effectively, efficiently and responsibly. I welcome the scrutiny that will shed light on any financial practices that are not in accordance with this commitment. Also, I will be taking action on recommendations that result from this report and will be communicating about those efforts to our employees, families and community.

Ultimately, our primary focus is on our 1,130 students to ensure that they continue to receive the highest quality instruction. When I visit our schools, I see teachers and administrators fully engaged in helping our students learn, grow and succeed. I see the bus drivers, who are the first face our students see greeting students; I see the administrative assistants greeting parents and students; I see the cafeteria staff welcoming students and serving nutritious meals; I see the maintenance and custodial staff making sure our buildings are clean and safe.  They indeed are dedicated to delivering excellence to every child.

In my upcoming columns here in The Tidewater News, I will be sharing some of those great stories about what is happening in our schools. In the meantime, I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

KELVIN EDWARDS SR. is the interim superintendent of Franklin City Public Schools. He can be reached at 569-8111, Ext. 5606.