Franklin County Schools Extend COVID Leave Policy
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the Jan. 11 meeting, the Franklin County School Board voted to extend through the end of May the COVID-19 leave policy, which expired Dec. 31. The board also heard an update from Director of Schools Stanley Bean on the pandemic’s effect on school system practices, and took action on several policy recommendations.
Bean reported 130 students had opted to participate in virtual learning the second semester and 40-45 had returned to in-classroom learning. Different from Bean’s previous requirement, students may now opt to participate in virtual learning without a doctor’s excuse.
In keeping with Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association rules, Bean said only parents and school employees could attend high school athletic events as spectators. For Franklin County, the rule will apply to sports at all grade levels.
Assistant Superintendent Linda Foster stressed the importance of extending the COVID-19 leave policy. The policy allows employees to take up to 10 days of paid leave, in addition to their regular sick leave, for causes related to the pandemic including illness, to quarantine, and to care for family members. The Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA) recommended extending the policy, Foster said, even though it was not yet clear if federal funding would reimburse the school system for the expense. “Without the policy, many of our employees would have been without pay last semester,” Foster said.
On Foster’s recommendation, the board also added language to strengthen the Acquisition and Use of Technology Equipment policy. The policy forbids employees from connecting personal technology equipment (i.e., laptops, printers, etc.) to any network supported by the Franklin County Board of Education, unless approved by the technology supervisor. Unauthorized connections “could cause serious damage to our technology and security,” Foster said.
The board enacted several TSBA policy recommendations, including allowing an appeals process for denied charter school applicants; allowing use of textbooks not on the approved list if the state board of education granted a waiver; providing for alternative credit options for high school students; updating the Sick Leave policy; and requiring training for and reporting by employees who might find it necessary to restrain special education students.
In keeping with a TSBA requirement the school system must have a Code of Conduct policy, the board also approved Policy 6.300 providing for “multi-tiered” disciplinary practices. Board members Sarah Liechty and Sarah Marhevsky spoke against the policy for allowing corporal punishment. Marhevsky expressed “concerns about equality,” explaining corporal punishment could be used only if the parent opted in and only 40 percent of parents had done so. “Five children could do the same thing, and only two would be eligible for corporal punishment,” Marhevsky said.
Board Chair Cleijo Walker pointed out only nine students, all males, received corporal punishment last year.
Liechty said corporal punishment “falls short of best practices in teaching appropriate behaviors” and, according to experts, was not “the best way” to change behavior. “If you paddle a child two or three times in a year, it isn’t working,” Liechty said.
“You could say the same thing about other discipline practices that don’t work,” said Board Member Chris Guess.
Marhevsky said she saw it as “incongruous” the school system was required by law to report evidence of child abuse, such as bruising, but could engage in a practice that caused bruising.
“Child abuse and discipline are not the same thing,” Guess said.
The board is schedule to meet next on Feb. 8.