001Annie, That's I'll get it back maybe. Good evening. As we begin the January meeting for the Franklin Special District, we would ask that you would stand for the pledge of allegiance, which will be led by Miss Amy Patton, a principal at Liberty Elementary. ask that you remain standing for a moment of silence as well. Liberty. >> Thank you. You may be seated. All right, recognitions and good news. We're going to start with our student artist of the month and uh Mr. Townsel. >> Yes. For the the student artist of the month of December is Annie Nichols. Are you here, Annie? All right. Why don't you come up here while we talk about you? Franklin Special District celebrates the December and January artist of the month. Both second graders from Liberty Elementary and Nicole's is the
002December artist of the month. And Natalya Rodriguez Rodriguez Aldana, are you here? No. Is January's selected artist. Annie and Natalya created beautiful holiday and winter themed prints. And Mrs. Elizabeth Gallagher's art class during a unit on print making. While printing, they played with a variety of concepts, layering ink colors, using mirror images to print readable names and letters, and using actual leaves to print textured designs. Students reuse discarded prints to create a frame around their favorite print, adding another layer of color and texture to their artwork. Annie and Natalyia's artwork is on view with other pieces by Liberty Elementary's artists at the central office gallery. Our thanks as always goes to Chuck Sug and Sonic Drive-In for their support of the student artist of the month. Let's give it up to Annie and Natalia. [applause]
003>> Did dad get a picture in time? You got it. All right. >> All right. Continuing with good news, Miss Bale, >> we would like for um Dr. Decker to please come forward. Tonight, we are proud to celebrate Associate Director of Schools for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Mary Decker, who has been named a national finalist for the 2026 Women in School Leadership Awards, presented by AASA, the school superintendent association in partnership with Forest Man Educators Corporation. Dr. Decker is one of only two finalists national nationwide in the central office principal category. an extraordinary national honor recognizing her outstanding instructional leadership and commitment to student success. Her work has elevated teaching and learning across Franklin Special District and earned national recognition through multiple conference presentations highlighting the district's innovative data informed practices. Award recipients will be
004announced at the 2026 AASA National Conference on Education in Nashville. Congratulations. [applause] >> Thank you. Right. have a proclamation for schoolboard appreciation week. Ask Franklin City Mayor, Dr. Ken Moore, to come forth, please. Thanks, sir. >> I have people that have to help me. Thank you for the kind invitation to be here tonight. And uh before I actually do this proclamation, I want to brag on you a little bit. You know, I've always been so proud of the academic achievements that you're getting with your students in the special district. Uh but I've had a lot more experience this year interacting with some of your students as we've launched our healthy democracy project through the National Civic League. We were one of two cities in America that were picked to have a healthy democracy project and
005we've had a series of meetings and uh much of what come out has come out of those meetings is the need for more youth involvement. So we've had uh the opportunity at breakfast with the mayors to host students uh from the special district. Uh I've had the opportunity with meet to meet with a number of uh students already and uh recently met with all the student body presidents here in Williamson County that we could assemble. So, uh, we're studying and looking at what may be the best opportunity for us, whether it's some type of youth advisory committee, but we're eager to continue to grow the civic-mindedness of our students and understand better how government works. Uh I think so many times maybe uh we give them a skewed view on a national level but I
006think whenever you look at a local level whether it's a local school board whether it's a local board of mayor and alderman you see a great deal of cooperation uh among each other and also with the community. So with that said congratulations. So listen up for this proclamation. >> Thank you sir. Whereas an excellent public education system is vital to the quality of life of our communities and to the economic development of our state. And whereas school board members represent a tremendous resource as local decision makers and diligently work to overcome the challenges of a changing world providing while providing students with the services and opportunities needed for a quality education. And whereas school board members support and appreciate the efforts of students, educators, and administrators whose diligent efforts have led to Tennessee having the
007highest graduation rate on record. Whereas the men and women of our local school boards are elected by the people to make decisions most appropriate for their communities and deserve recognition and thanks for their countless hours of service to public education in Tennessee. Now therefore, I Dr. Kenmore, mayor of the city of Franklin, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim the week of January 25th through January 31st, 2026 as school board appreciation week. And I urge all people in Franklin Williamson County to help us observe that. So congratulations. May I present it to you? [applause] >> Oh, thank you, sir. >> Thank you. All right. Thanks, sir. >> Quick, quick, >> [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Yes. Yes, Kevin, you should. All right. appreciate Mayor Moore always coming to do that for us and uh we look forward uh
008I think we've been given our assignments as to what schools we will be going to. So the next meeting hopefully we can report on the great time I'm sure we'll have because uh I've been given instructions tonight about my school. So I'm looking forward to it. So all right uh public input there is a podium to my right if there is anyone here for public input. Seeing no one, we declare that public input is now closed. Uh reports, presentations, and discussions. Dr. Decker. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Tonight, the teaching and learning spotlight illuminates the RISE Award recognizing inspiring school employees. from the Tennessee Department of Education website. The RISE Award honors classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students. A classified school employee is defined as an employee of a state or any
009political subdivision of a state or an employee of a nonprofit entity who works in any grade from pre kindergarten through high school in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services and skilled trades. Congress established the award as an annual designation beginning in 2020. The TDOE in coordination with the governor's office selects up to two nominees for the RISE award annually. That's statewide. Applications and nominations submitted by local educational agencies, school administrators, professional associations, labor organizations, educational service agencies, nonprofit entities, private schools, and their representatives, parents, and students, and community members will be considered. The FSD was very proud to announce that safety and attendance supervisor Miss Selby Glass is one of two state
010finalists for the 2526 rise award. She was recognized at the TDOE principal and supervisor of the year banquet in December 2025. Further, the US Secretary of Education will select a single classified school employee from among the nominees to receive the RISE award nationally by spring 2026. Nominees for the RISE award must at minimum demonstrate excellence in work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, local support from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc. who speak to the nominees exemplary work enhancement of classified school employees image in the community and schools. And on the screen I wanted to share a couple of photos from the supervisor of the year banquet that occurred in December. That is Miss Selby Glass with the other RISE award winner in the state for Murphreey'sboro City Schools, Julie Seymour. And then
011we have another photo of course with Dr. Thank you, >> Elby who uh could not be here tonight, but thank you Dr. Snowden, director of schools annual report. >> Yes, sir. We provided you with an annual report of the state of the Franklin Special School District and this is based on the 2425 school year and it's always a little later because you wait we wait for state report card and results from state testing. Um like to recognize and thank Dr. Decker and teaching learning team and Dr. wrestling and finance administration and Miss Rearen and Susanna for their input and help in developing this annual report. Uh we endeavor to make it comprehensive and as you see it's about 49 pages I believe uh in length and to change things up uh I thought I would
012just read all 49 pages tonight. >> I'm kidding. If you have any questions though, we'll be glad to answer any of those about any topic that's in that annual report. That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Any questions or comments? All right. Thank you. Approval of the board agenda. Is there a motion? >> Mr. Townsel. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Bale. All in favor? Thank you. Approval of the consent agenda. Is there a motion? >> Newman. Is there a second? >> Mr. Townsel. All in favor? Thank you. We are approved. Business before the board. Dr. Snow. >> Yes. Item one is the 2425 audit reports. Copies of both the annual financial report for the FSD and the individual school activity fund report are being presented for your review. Mr.
013Andy Matlock from Matlock Clemens will provide an overview of the audits and answer any questions that you may have about the reports. Mr. >> Good evening. Thank you very much for the introduction. Thank you for inviting me here to to present both audits my annual visit and I appreciate being in your new building. I was talking to Dr. Esinger and this is our my first meeting in your new building. It's obviously a very nice building. Um so I'll begin. Obviously, I'm presenting two audits and these are for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Um, those are wrapped up in the fall. Um, so starting with the internal school funds audit, uh, we dated that report October 6, 2025. We issued an unmodified opinion, which is what you want, a good opinion, a clean opinion, or
014as Dr. Esler said, a squeaky clean opinion. Um, it's all the same. It's good. there were no and honestly um in all the years we've been working with you guys I don't know that we've not had an unmodified which is good um again this year we did not identify any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in internal control um which go hand in hand with the audit and issuing our opinion on the financial statements uh just a few a few numbers your total fund balance at June 30 2025 for all the schools combined uh was $669,000. It was up about 30,000 uh from last year. Um total revenues were right under a,996 or 997,000. Um as opposed to 980 the year before, expenses 965, which you expect your revenues and expenditures to kind of go hand
015in hand in your internal school funds because the idea is to spend that that money on the kids. So, um, again, those kind of mirror each other, which is exactly what you want. Um, like I said, so just a slight increase in fund balance. Your total assets ended at 668,000 um for the year. Any any questions on the internal school funds report, we obviously um with that working with the bookkeepers um at the schools and we're able to do a um you know, an annual bookkeeper meeting and have input And it's always um not just saying that because I'm here with you guys um but it's always my favorite bookkeeper meeting. Uh we work with over 20 school systems and and the bookkeepers uh do a really good job and they try hard and they
016um they're very vocal which is good in those type settings because uh they have an opportunity to learn and I have an opportunity to learn. Um even though we're the auditor uh you know we like to we try to be a building block not necessarily a stumbling block to just everyone wants to to be on the the same page and the comproller is constantly changing um rules and guidance and those kind of things. So, we try to stay on top of it and and help um everybody try to understand what they're trying to say. All right. So, I'll move to the district audit report. We issued that report December 8th, 2025. Um and then we also issued an unmodified clean squeaky clean opinion. Um and also in that we did not identify significant deficiencies, any
017material weaknesses in in internal control. Um, and in addition, that's what's considered a single audit due to the federal awards. Um, we did not identify any deficiencies in your federal awards, any deficiencies in internal controls surrounding those federal awards. So, it was in fact squeaky clean audit. Um, just a couple of highlights, couple of numbers. Total assets for the district um right around 224 million at the end of the year. Um total net position which is your assets and deferred outflows minus liabilities and deferred inflows um was a little over 52 million. Uh just a a minor just a slight increase or decrease from last year um but right around the same. Uh capital outlays um obviously you guys had a lot of activity the last year or two. Um capital outlays total a little
018under 13 million for for that fiscal year. Any questions on that? They were good audits. It's a pleasure working with you guys, working with Dr. Esinger. Um it's, you know, when things are good, obviously he's happy, you guys are happy, but it it makes our job easier, too. >> Thank you. The administration recommends approval of the audit reports as presented. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Do we have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Miss Bale, do we have a second? >> Miss Newman. We'll do a roll call vote. Starting with Miss Newman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Blair. Yes. M. Bale. >> Yes. M. >> Clark. >> Yes. >> Mr. Towns. >> Yes. >> We are approved. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Good to >> see you. >> Item number two, 2027 2028
019FS FSD calendar. Uh after a thorough review and discussion at our retreat last Saturday, um consideration of the 2728 calendar is being presented to you tonight for approval. Uh thanks to Dr. Decker, Faith Maxwell, the original calendar committee, and also the small district team that took part in this process in which top priorities were number one to align with the WCS calendar. Number two, the length of breaks to be a full week for fall break, Thanksgiving break and spring break, and a two week winter break and to not begin before August the 1. And we're able to meet all of those priorities in this calendar. And so we're recommending version one for the school calendar. >> Thank you, sir. Is there a motion to approve? Mr. Townsel, is there a second? Miss Barker, is there
020any discussion? >> I just want to thank everybody for their hard work in creating this. This is um we shared at the retreat. Um actually Robert shared this is probably the most u um talked about item that we have outside of um people thanking us for participating in um activities and um the love that we are able to give to the students. And um it just you see like it seems like every time we go to the grocery store this is you're gonna see someone and they're going to ask you a question about this. I'll jump in as well. Yeah, I did mention that it's the thing I get asked most about at the calendar. Um, yeah, no problem. And then I I get feedback on starting the Friday before the uh come back to
021school and then the discussion whether we should start on Friday or Monday. Fact is the best we can do as your board support what you tell us counter you want to have. So the first thing I ask is what do they say they want? It was close. It's always close. That's good. So even though they might not vote on the one that you suggested, I hopefully my board members will follow me and we'll support the one that you said you wanted to have. So I just wanted you to know we don't try to think, no, let's we can do better than them. We'll figure this out. No, we want to hear what you want to tell us. When we hear it, that's what we want to look for. I also appreciate the process and I
022don't I know we don't have a lot of parents here tonight but there's so much that goes into the calendar start dates how many days we have to be in professional learning days things like that that we take it really seriously when we do the calendar when we start when we have breaks and there's so much effort that goes into it from the admin team that it takes a long time to get to this version. So we have considered everything and hopefully it will make everybody happy. Thank you. Any other discussion? Not. We have a motion and a second. We'll do a roll call vote again. Miss Newman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Blair. Yes. M. Bale. >> Yes. >> M. >> Barker? >> Yes. >> Mr. Towns? >> Yes. >> We are approved. Thank you.
023Dr. Snowden, director of schools report. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. So, uh, want to take an opportunity, and I know we talked a little bit about this on Saturday at the retreat, but we're very proud of our school district, our schools, and and the state report card recognitions. As we talked about Saturday, Franklin Special District is only one of 14 districts across Tennessee with the exemplary district recognition and the only one in the Middle Tennessee region. And as I reminded principles and and the people of the leadership team, you know, every school contributes to that exemplary status. We wouldn't have been able to achieve that without the work in for every school from every school. Uh in addition, all five elementary schools were recognized as reward schools this year. Uh, also Franklin Elementary, Moore Elementary,
024Papa Grove Elementary, and Freedom Middle all earned the letter grade of A while the remaining Franklin special district schools earned a B letter grade. And I don't know about you, but uh that's a that's a really good report card. I know uh my parents as long as they were A's and B's and I don't they didn't want a C or a D or especially an F but uh so we're very proud of the work uh of our students, our faculty, our staff, our school and district leaders who are obviously very instrumental in these successes. Um so and I have uh professional learning administrative day January the 2nd and the 5th. We provided both professional learning and administrative days for the opportunity to prepare for our students return on January the 6th. Like to thank Dr.
025Carlton who helps or is in charge of and develops our professional learning session schedule. So uh thank you again Dr. Carlton Schoolboard appreciation week and we've already started discussion tonight with the proclamation that's January 25th through the 31st. This the theme this year is local leadership lasting impact. Uh you've already received hopefully an invitation to an individual school to honor and recognize you for your service to both the students and employees. In recognition of your service, the school district will be donating a book to each of our media centers. Spark by Chris Baron for grades five through eight and Sally B writes a thank you note by Courtney Shinml and Susan Verde for grades K through four. Thank you for all your support, your time and dedication that each of you devotes to this school
026district and our schools and our students and families. Spring open house. I think I think that deserves a [applause] spring open houses will be February the 27th. Interested families may attend at any point during the hours of the open house. They may tour the schools and there will be individuals who can answer any questions parents may have. Open house hours are 8 to 1 at FIS, FMS and PGS and 9 to 2 at FES, JEES, LEAS, and MEES. And additionally, the pack will be available for tours for families that day. Registration for the 26 27 school year. Uh that's please check our website for detailed information on the registration which will begin March the 2nd. The out of zone and out of district application link will open on February the 16th and will be available
027through March the 19th. Statement of disclosure of interest to Tennessee's ethics commission. As always, please submit your annual statement to the e ethics commission. If you have not already done so, the access is online filing with a deadline of January 31st. Retiree Valentine's Day brunch will be Wednesday, February the 11th. Invitations will go out shortly for this event. Please mark your calendars to join us on that date if your schedule allows. And that will be at Liberty Elementary that morning. And uh I forget what time do we start? 9:30 start on that date. And then we have information in your packet related to conferences and meeting. That's all I have. M. >> Thanks. Uh any comments or questions for Dr. Snowden? All right. uh updates, teaching and learning. Dr. Decker, >> nothing additional. Thank you,
028sir. >> All right. Finance and administration. Dr. Desine. >> Yeah. Good evening, everyone. We do have some some positive uh financial news. The sales tax collections uh of January reflect an 8.3% increase monthtomonth. And that brings our increase year-to-year to 5.4%. And that's uh pretty significant compared to previous months. >> Thank you. Tim would be proud. >> Good. Good. Uh, are there any announcements from the board? >> I just wanted to share um how much I appreciate um Franklin High School allowing our Papa Grove students. Um, I don't think I heard about if there was one from Freedom Middle, but I know there were seven band students um and one guard student that was able to participate in the Rose Parade. And um they normally will metriculate um into the school. And so that's part
029of the reason why they had an opportunity. I was stopped while I was walking my puppy the other day and the student shared that he had to um the reason why I'd seen him walking around this the neighborhood um with his um instrument was because they had to prepare to walk seven miles because it's a fivemile track that they had to participate in. And it was just again um you you know buttons are just bursting. just over how exciting how excited we are when students are thrilled to share with us their opportunities as they're metriculating into the next level of educational experience that they have. And I just again it reminded me that I want to thank the band, orchestra, all the arts that we have that pour into our students on an early age
030so that they can um show off when they go to Williamson County or wherever else they're going to go because they are um being prepared in a in a in a wonderful way. And again, just thank you for how how you guys all orchestrated that to happen. >> Thank you, Mr. Townsel. I to follow that, but I'm gonna I'm gonna follow it. Um, schoolboard appreciation uh week's coming up and instead of me going to the school like we normally do. I'm going to invite my wife's here. I'm gonna invite the school over to my house. So, as long as she's okay with that. Okay. I can see no. [clears throat] Never mind. Forget it. I'll go to school. >> Okay. >> You You do that. >> All right. Uh, anything else from the board? No.
031Okay. [laughter] Uh, see we have several members from the leadership Franklin class in the audience today uh or tonight will ask if they would stand and introduce themselves. >> Of course it is. Of course it is. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Yes, he is. All right. I know there are a couple others. Yeah. Thank you so Of [laughter] course you are. >> All right. Thank you all for being here tonight. Appreciate it. Uh if there's nothing else that commands the attention, we are ajourned.