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Cristina Boone was appointed to the Ward 4 seat of the Franklin City School Board on Monday night, Feb. 13, when the Franklin City Council took this action by unanimous vote.

The council had interviewed her earlier in the evening in response to her nomination for the seat by Mona Murphy on Jan. 9.

The Jan. 9 public hearing was the second public hearing in which the council sought nominees to fill the vacant seat after no nominations were made during the Nov. 28 hearing.

The Ward 4 seat became vacant after Marchelle F. Williams resigned. Ward 1 Board Member and Board Chair Robert Holt stated that Williams’ resignation was effective Oct. 17.

Williams had served on the school board for more than five-and-a-half years. Her current term is due to expire at the end of June 2024.

Franklin City Manager Amanda C. Jarratt noted at the Nov. 28 meeting that the individual appointed to fill the vacancy would fill the rest of the unexpired term through June 30, 2024.

There was no discussion among council members Feb. 13 prior to Ward 3 Councilman Gregory McLemore making the motion to appoint Boone.

Following the 7-0 vote, Jarratt said, “We’ll send a letter to the superintendent, and then we’ll provide instructions for her swearing in.”

To Boone, who stayed for the meeting, Franklin Mayor Robert “Bobby” Cutchins said, “You’ll be contacted and everything will be taken care of. We appreciate your willingness to (serve).”

In a Tuesday, Feb. 14, interview, Boone shared her reaction to her appointment.

“I was amazed,” she said. “My life is a testimony, and I am actually ready to testify to it. It was just amazing. … I’m grateful for it. I’m grateful, and I’m ready.”

She was sworn in Tuesday afternoon.

Holt, who was present for Monday’s meeting, also shared his reaction Tuesday to Boone’s appointment.

“I did not know her, but I did speak with her after the council meeting last night, and I’m excited to have her on the board,” he said. “She’s very enthusiastic and looking forward to it, and I always like that.”

Highlighting how the seat has been vacant since October, he added, “I’m really happy that we’ve filled it, and she will be at our school board meeting this Thursday night at 6 o’clock.”

The open session of the Feb. 16 meeting is slated to start at 7 p.m. and will be held in the City Council Chambers at 207 W. Second Ave.

BOONE’S BACKGROUND

Murphy shared Boone’s background with the council Jan. 9 when she nominated her.

Boone, 52, was born in Brooklyn, New York. 

She went to Catherine McAuley High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Brooklyn, from eighth to 10th grade. She graduated from an alternative high school in June 1991.

After that, she continued her education, earning a two-year degree in civil engineering from a New York technical trade college. She also earned a commercial driver’s license to drive 53-foot trailers. 

She did an internship with an interpersonal communications organization that dealt in social work.

She speaks English and Spanish and knows sign language.

After going to school, Boone has held a variety of jobs, some of which Murphy listed.

Boone worked for a few years in the field of youth mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, which is described by its website as the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network.

In 2005, she relocated to Franklin and served as a store manager to start with. 

Later on, she took on a nursing career, earning her certification to become a certified nursing assistant.

She is a medication aide at the Village at Woods Edge, and she is working toward becoming a licensed practical nurse.

Amid the timeline of her professional career, Cristina married Curtis Boone, and they now have 10 children and 22 grandchildren.

“She is truly invested in the schools and serves as an advocate for many of the children in the community along with their parents,” Murphy said. “She has five grandchildren who go to S.P. Morton Elementary, ranging from preschool to third grade, and one at Franklin High School in the (Junior ROTC) program.”