by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Sept. 9 meeting, the Franklin County School Board heard from Charles Holcomb who was told his daughter was in danger of failing a class for incomplete work when she never received makeup assignments during a five-week hospital stay. In regular business, the board learned about an upcoming celebration at the Townsend School Cultural Center and approved a policy change impacting grading. The board also approved a calendar change on tenure decisions.

Last spring, Holcomb and his wife received an email from his daughter’s teacher stating “she could possibly be failing” due to missing homework assignments. Holcomb responded via email, “According to policy, if there is unsatisfactory homework, you’re supposed to contact me. I never received anything from you. If I had received anything from you, my child would have had 10 days to correct those things and brought the grade up.” Holcomb never received a reply from the teacher. An administrator stepped in. “This incident brought damages to my daughter,” Holcomb insisted. “There has been harassment, there has been intimidation. My child has been hurt. My child while in hospital care for five weeks did not receive any of her assignments.” Holcomb asked to meet with the teacher but was told she was on summer vacation. He declined to meet with Director of Schools Cary Holman. “Since I said there was harassment, the administrator was supposed to deliver a report to the director of schools in 48 hours ... he was to have 20 days to look at it. We’re five months into that.”

“We allow the negligence to go on to another group of kids,” Holcomb said. “There is no accountability … this could have been simply taken care of by telling the employee [teacher], answer the parent.”

Among the recently completed and underway capital projects are the new gym floor, bleachers, and concession stand at Townsend School Cultural Center where elementary school basketball games take place. Holman announced a Townsend Reveal celebration scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 5:30-7 p.m., featuring art exhibits, cheerleaders, and bands, as well as former Townsend School administrators. Townsend has a long and rich history. Constructed over 100 years ago, Townsend School educated Franklin County’s African American youth during segregation and later housed a kindergarten program, alternative school, and the board of education. Today, in addition to the gym being used for youth sports, Townsend serves as a historical archive and hosts social and cultural events.

In July, the board voted to reduce TCAP score’s weight on students’ final grades from 10 percent to 5 percent for grade levels 6-8. Following a Tennessee School Board Association directive, the board voted at the September meeting to return to the 10 percent standard for grades 6-8. For other grade levels, TCAP score’s weight will continue to follow the board’s July decision: 15 percent of the final grade for grades 9-12 and zero percent for grade 3-5.

On the advice of Human Resources Supervisor Roger Alsup, the board voted to rule on tenure decisions in November rather than June. “We don’t get our level of effectiveness scores back from the state until October,” Alsup said. “The timing is odd,” he acknowledged. “We anticipate it’s not going to be a problem, and the board will take our recommendations.” Teachers not recommended for tenure will not be rehired. “They’re going to know beforehand,” said Vice Chair Lance Williams. Tenure recommendations follow upon five years of service. “Tenure is different than it used to be,” Holman said. “Tenure can be granted based on teaching performance, but if performance changes, tenure can be taken away … except for teachers who have been grandfathered in.”