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Franklin City Public Schools and Franklin City Council are looking for residents to fill upcoming vacancies on the Franklin City School Board. 

An FCPS news release stated that the soon-to-be-open seats are for Wards 4, 5, 6 and the at-large position, which have been occupied by Cristina Boone, Brittany Powell, Dr. Peggy Scott and Carrie Johnson, respectively.  

School board members are compensated at an annual rate of $4,000, with the chair receiving $5,000. 

Individuals interested in representing their Ward are urged to complete the application (available by clicking here) and return it by mail or hand deliver it to this address: 

City of Franklin Administrative Office,  

ATTN: Haleigh Pinto, Executive Assistant 

207 W. Second Ave. 

Franklin, VA 23851 

Note that applications will be open to public viewing. 

The deadline to receive applications has been extended from Friday, May 31, at 5 p.m. to now Monday, June 3, at 5 p.m. Applications received after the due date will not be considered.

School Board Chairman Robert Holt noted during the May 16 school board meeting that hard copies of the application are available at the city manager’s office and the school board office, both of which are located at Franklin City Hall.

The application represents a change to the city’s process of gathering candidates for the Franklin City School Board.

Previously, a public hearing would be held at a Franklin City Council meeting during which eligible candidates had to be nominated by someone in attendance. The nominator would typically give a brief speech advocating for the person they were nominating, and often they would support this nomination with hard copies of the individual’s resumé or list of accomplishments that they would distribute to council members.

Interim Franklin City Manager Darlene Burcham explained what prompted the change to this process in a Tuesday, May 28, email interview with The Tidewater News.

“The process was changed for two specific reasons — one, I understand the person being nominated did not have to be present nor was his or her consent or interest known,” she said. “And secondly, the responsibilities of school board members warranted a more rigorous process and review. There will still be a public hearing for those selected to be interviewed, tentatively scheduled for June 24, but council could decide to hold a separate meeting for this purpose.

“The new process will hopefully provide council with a list of individuals who might not otherwise be ‘nominated’ and yet are eager to serve, and a list for unanticipated vacancies that might occur in the future,” she added.