FRANKLIN
During its Thursday meeting, the Franklin School Board approved the motion to apply for a Title IV Part A grant, which would be for $19,091.87.

Of that amount, when received, a little over $9,600 will pay for a Student Success Support Monitor for the middle and high schools. The remainder would go toward technology and other needed instructional materials and supplies.

That person, according to the application, would work with special education case managers “to monitor graduation progress of students with disabilities … review and monitor transcripts of overage and under-credited learners and provide them with supports that will help reduce the school’s dropout rate.”

Further, the monitor would be working with “all students on target for graduating by providing accelerated learning opportunities to increase students’ interest in postsecondary programs that will result in high wage, skill and demand careers.”

The main duty for that person would be “to ensure that all students are college and career ready, and to inform all students of opportunities for accessing financial support for college.”

In other matters before the board, the members got an update on the Charles Street gym roof. They learned:

• During the removal of the existing roof of Charles Street Gym, it was discovered that the existing gypsum roof deck is deteriorated in several locations and is structurally unsound.
• The recommendation from the Roofing Engineer is to totally remove the existing gypsum roof deck and replace it with a metal roof deck. Then the new roofing material can be applied to the metal deck.
• The additional cost of providing and installing the metal roof deck turnkey, including engineering services, will be $37,500.

The board decided it was best to go ahead and get the work done, and will partner with the City of Franklin, which will pay $27,500, and the board will pay $10,000.

On the issue of the $26,000 electric bill at J.P. King Jr. Middle School, the board learned that the meter was reporting in error. City official will place a new meter, which will require the school to be shut down for four hours; this will likely take place on a Saturday. The City will pay for the $1,500 meter. The school division does not have to pay the $26K, but will pay for the average bill, which is about $3,000.

The next board meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m.