At its meeting, the Franklin Special School District Board of Education approved a package of personnel recommendations, property and financial items, and policy readings.

The board approved tenure recommendations for a group of teachers recommended by principals and district leaders. Superintendent Dr. Snowden presented the recommendations and the board voted to grant tenure to the slate of teachers presented. The board packet and the meeting record list a group of educators recommended for tenure, including (as presented) Lawrence Smith; Jesse Gholson; Morgan Ellison; Claire Franks; Mary Catherine Brown; Charlene Maker; Christina Ford; Claire Ashford; Lydia Fogg; Kaylee Eley; Candi Jones Marshall; and Allison Wright. The board moved and seconded the motion and approved the recommendations.

The board declared a district-owned building lot at 507 New Highway 96 West surplus, authorized publishing required legal notices for sale and empowered the real estate committee to negotiate a listing agreement with brokers. Board members discussed broker commission levels and said any listing agreement would be subject to negotiation; the motion passed on a roll-call vote.

The board approved tuition rates for the 2025–26 school year for out-of-zone students. The rates remain unchanged from 2024–25: $2,000 per year for the first out-of-district student who lives within Williamson County and $1,000 for each additional sibling; $4,000 per year for students who live outside Williamson County.

On personnel compensation, the board accepted the annual report and director evaluation that yielded a 98.25% performance score for the superintendent. Under the district’s established bonus process that made the superintendent eligible for 100% of the performance bonus pool (equal to 10% of his salary), the board approved awarding the full bonus. Superintendent Dr. Snowden said he would donate the bonus back to the district and asked the board for flexibility in allocating those funds; the board’s legal counsel confirmed the donation was permissible.

The board also approved second readings of two district policies: Board Policy 4.205 (Honors program guidelines) and Board Policy 4.603 (Promotion and retention). The board approved a first reading for Board Policy 5.1061 (background investigations) and discussed Tennessee’s participation in the national fingerprint/rapback program that automatically notifies districts of disqualifying criminal history, which can eliminate a manual five-year recheck for enrolled employees if the employee is in the program.

Votes at a glance

- Tenure recommendations (group of teachers): approved (motion and second recorded; outcome approved)
- Surplus property declaration and authorization to publish/sell (507 New Highway 96 West): approved (roll-call vote)
- Tuition rates for 2025–26: approved (motion and second)
- Superintendent performance bonus (100% of bonus pool = 10% of salary): approved; superintendent stated intent to donate bonus back to district
- Policy 4.205 (Honors program) — second reading: approved
- Policy 4.603 (Promotion and retention) — second reading: approved
- Policy 5.1061 (Background investigations) — first reading: approved for first reading and discussion

Why it matters: These actions affect staffing permanence, district property and tuition revenue for out-of-zone students, and internal policy governing honors, promotion/retention and background checks. The superintendent’s performance bonus and stated donation affect internal funding decisions moving into the 2025–26 budget cycle.

What board members said: In presenting tenure recommendations and later the performance evaluation, Dr. Snowden thanked teachers and district staff and described the tenure slate and the superintendent’s evaluation process. During the surplus-property discussion a board member questioned typical broker commission levels and was told negotiations were expected.

Next steps: The real estate committee will negotiate any listing agreement for the surplus lot and the district will proceed with legally required sale notices. The board indicated budget work sessions will consider allocations for the superintendent’s donated bonus prior to the first budget work session for 2025–26.