by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“The policy slants toward discrimination of female employees,” said board member Sara Liechty commenting on the amended Personnel Dress Code Policy proposed at the Sept. 8 meeting of the Franklin County School Board. “A lot of the content is directed toward female employees.” The board approved the proposed policy with further revisions. The board also approved changing the dates for parent teacher conferences to allow for longer visiting hours.

In response to Liechty’s concerns about the dress code policy, Board Chair CleiJo Walker said, “That’s why I proposed striking [forbidding] high heels and sandals. We have people that are wearing heels and wearing sandals in every building in this county.”

The other change to the policy allowed wearing leggings with a top “ideally knee-length or longer.” Human Resources Supervisor Roger Alsup said school principals “wanted leggings addressed.” “I’m okay with the leggings [provision],” Liechty said, “but specifics are asking for trouble.” She recommended decisions about personnel dress fall to the school principal. She pointed to the difference in circumstances between a high school teacher and a teacher crawling on the floor with kindergarten-age children.

“I want butts covered,” said Cowan Elementary Principal Cynthia Young. Huntland School Principal Lisa Crabtree concurred. Crabtree said she had “a few conversations” with teachers about dress. “I don’t like jeans with holes.” The policy allows jeans “only on days designated by the Principal” as “special occasions” and “never more than one day a week.” “It’s important we remember we are in a professional career,” insisted Director of Schools Cary Holman.

The board deleted the clause forbidding high heels and sandals from the policy before approving it. Liechty suggested further review of the policy and voted against approval.

Holman recommended the change to the parent-teacher conference days, proposing “students would not attend school on the scheduled [fall and spring] parent teacher conference days. Two stockpile days [for inclement weather] would be used for these two days.” With the change approved, for the 2025-2026 school year conference days are October 21 and March 10; for the 2026-2027 school year conference days are Oct. 20 and March 9. Conference hours will be from 9:30–11:30 a.m., and 1–6:15 p.m., instead of just 3:15–6:15 p.m., as it was in the past. Since the conferences will be on stockpile days, teachers will receive full pay. Teachers receive full pay for stockpile days whether they are used or not, Holman said. “This past year we had one stockpile day [for inclement weather] left over.” Virtual days could be used for instructional days if the district ran short of stockpile days due to weather. Teachers and principals were surveyed and the majority agreed with the change. Provisions will be made so teachers with children can attend parent-teacher conferences with their children’s teachers.

The board also approved Huntland School’s request to construct an Ag Barn on property across the street from the football field purchased in 2015 for a soccer field but determined to be too wet. An ISM grant will pay for the construction. The barn will feature six stalls, a chicken coop, a feed and tack room, a multi-use area, and a restroom. Annual expenses for insurance, water, and electricity are estimated to be $2,600.

“There is nothing better than hands-on learning in education,” said Jason Walker, CTE Agriculture instructor at Huntland. “Live animals have been the missing piece.” Walker stressed the Ag Barn would foster integrating academic instruction in math and science from elementary school through high school. “This is an agricultural community,” he observed, citing strong community support and offers to donate animals and feed. Walker proposed starting with chickens, goats, and perhaps a few cows. Asked who would care for the animals on the weekends, Walker said, “It can be done by the students.” “A lot of those kids live on farms, so that’s not new to them,” agreed Board Chair Walker.

In other business, the board approved accepting the donation of a 2022 Nissan Frontier truck for use in the Franklin County High School Collision and Repair Program. The truck will be used as a stationary instruction tool and not operated on public highways, so no insurance is required. “We’re very grateful for Nissan’s continued support,” said Board Chair Walker.

Holman brought to the board’s attention a class action lawsuit against textbook companies for overcharging schools. School attorney Chuck Cagel will investigate whether there would be financial gain for the district to join the lawsuit. The district has purchased textbooks from all the companies named in the litigation.