In a virtual meeting May 11, the Franklin Special School District board of education voted unanimously to reduce three positions ahead of the 2020-21 school year.

Two positions, one teacher and one paraprofessional, are being eliminated from the Spanish program at Liberty Elementary School, FSSD Director of Schools David Snowden said.

Snowden said the program includes 30 minutes of instruction every seven days.

“When Spanish was implemented, it took the place of computer class—which is now taught during our Tier 1 instruction—which the principal, Ms. Patton, and others in Teaching and Learning do not believe is the best use of time for students,” Snowden said.

The remaining position being eliminated is a physical education position at Poplar Grove Elementary School. Snowden said the decision to eliminate the position for a third teacher was made after determining that comparable-sized schools can operate with only two positions.

“Franklin Elementary, Johnson Elementary and Poplar Grove Elementary have approximately the same number of students enrolled,” Snowden said. “FES and JES currently operate with two physical education teachers with approximately the same student enrollment.”

Snowden said the physical education teacher whose position is being eliminated has been placed in a teaching position at Poplar Grove Middle School and will have an opportunity if he or she chooses to return to a physical education teaching position when one becomes available in the future.