ParentSquare

  • FCS Statement 9/4/26

    9/04/26 Statement Franklin City Schools is aware of unsubstantiated social media claims of a safety concern at Franklin Junior High. In conjunction with Franklin law enforcement, it has been verified that no safety concern or threat exists.  We remain fully committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all our students and staff. 

    Friday, Sep 04 2026

  • Late Bus Split: Bus 24

    Good afternoon, We had a bus breakdown during FJHS routes.  Therefore, we are having to split Bus 24's route for Intermediate and Gerke.   Students that ride Bus 24 will be delayed arriving home this afternoon. Thank you for patience and understanding and we apologize for the inconvenience.  [Friday, Aug 28 at 3:17 PM] Update as of 3:17pm-We were able to get another driver to Driver Bus 24. It will still be running a bit late, and will be on Bus 22. Thank you for your patience, Kelli Fromm

    Friday, Aug 28 2026

  • Start of School Transportation Update 8/12/26

    Hello Wildcat Families! 🐾🚌 As we gear up for Thursday, August 13th, we have some important updates and reminders regarding school transportation! 📱 App Updates:  Bus route information is available on the  My Ride K-12 App . Already have it? You’ll need to uninstall and reinstall the app, as it was updated over the summer. Need to download it? Directions are on the Franklin City Schools website under the Transportation tab . To link your account: You will need your student’s ID number (found in ProgressBook/same as their lunch number) and their 8-digit birthdate. ⏱️ Route Timings & The First Week:  Please check your student’s busing info frequently! Routes change often this time of year as students are added or removed, which affects timing. The first week of school is always a busy adjustment period. We ask for everyone's patience and kindness as our drivers, teachers, staff, and students get used to new schedules and review safety protocols. Expect delays the first few days: Buses will likely run 10-15 minutes late, especially on the first two days as teachers help younger students navigate the building. In the afternoons, buses do not leave the school until all students are safely accounted for and we have the "all clear." 📞 Contacting Us:  Like many districts across Ohio, we are experiencing a driver shortage. Our entire team—including office staff, mechanics, and supervisors—is out driving routes to make sure our students get to school safely. If you call the transportation department and we can't answer, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. For immediate assistance , please call your student’s school building office, and they can radio the driver. Safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your help in honoring our number one commitment: our students! Thank you, Your Wildcat Transportation Staff 🐾

    Wednesday, Aug 12 2026

  • Superintendent's Welcome Letter 2026-27

    Superintendent's Letter Together, proudly educating the future of Franklin. August 10, 2026 Dear Wildcat families, Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! We’re excited to welcome students back and look forward to a great school year.  Staffing changes Several employees retired at the end of '25-'26; we are happy to welcome several new folks to our Wildcat Family!  Franklin High School: Garrett Schrum; science; Zoey Zeh, Speech Language Pathologist. Franklin Junior High: Molly Corrado, principal; Jason Jackson, assistant principal; Anna Johnson, ELA; Stacy Smith, ELA; Connor Flanegin, math; Lauren Hetteberg, ELA; Paige Payne, ELA; Todd Gasho, Intervention Specialist. Franklin Intermediate: Megan Thornton, math.   Free Breakfast and Lunch We’re pleased to be able to offer all district students free breakfast and lunch again this year. Last year, 82,581 breakfasts and 220,447 lunches were served free to Franklin students under the Community Eligibility Provision.    Getting our FCS campuses ready for 2026–2027 Our Maintenance, Grounds, and Custodial teams have been working hard all summer to make sure Franklin City Schools is ready to welcome students and staff back for the 2026–2027 school year! In addition to closing more than 100 work orders over the summer, our teams completed a wide variety of projects across the district, including: Asphalt repairs at Hunter and throughout the FIS/FJHS campus. Concrete repairs and replacement at the Hunter playground. Resealing of the FIS playground asphalt. Fire door and fire curtain repairs in McDade Auditorium. Installation of student hallway hooks at FIS. Playground mulch added at Schenck, Gerke, Hunter, and FIS. Parking lot striping and painting throughout the district. New and updated parking lot signage across the district. Striping of the FHS practice field. (Picture courtesy of Franklin Winter Guard.) Playground improvements at Gerke are planned for October 2026. Our Grounds Crew worked diligently throughout the summer to keep our district grounds looking their best and ready for students, staff, and families. Our Custodial Teams spent the summer preparing their buildings and classrooms, including deep cleaning, floor care and waxing, and touch-up painting throughout the district. This is just a snapshot of the work completed this summer. We are incredibly grateful to our Maintenance, Grounds, and Custodial teams for the time, effort, and pride they put into preparing our schools. Our facilities are in great shape, and we are ready to welcome our students and staff back this week!   News from around the district New website: The district has rolled out a new website for this school year; it integrates completely with ParentSquare, our communications platform. Other than a small charge to migrate our content from the old to the new site, the cost to the district was a wash. The web address remains franklincityschools.com. Early College Academy: The 2026 graduating class included 12 seniors who were also the second cohort of FHS grads of Miami University’s Early College Academy; they graduated with both their high school diploma and an associate's degree from Miami University Regionals. The Early College Academy allowed these students to earn their degree at no cost to themselves.  Town Hall meetings: Last year, the district held town hall meetings in October, March, and April. In addition to district administrators, the agenda included guest speakers from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and the Warren County Auditor’s Office. We also welcomed Bobbie Grice, past board member from the Little Miami School District, and Jeff Gore, who is the mayor of Huber Heights, a public educator, and the co-founder of fixohioschools.org. We anticipate several town halls this fall; watch our website and social media for more information on dates. We welcome input and feedback from the community; we hope to see you at one or more of these events.   Levy/Finances Last year was challenging for many of our families; the failure of multiple levies meant the board had to make difficult decisions about cutting expenses: reducing busing to state minimums; increasing classroom and pay-to-participate fees; and eliminating full-day kindergarten. With the exception of full-day kindergarten, the District has worked diligently to protect programs that are vital to our students.  Levy failures continue to place pressure on our finances; the district’s financial picture has not improved. We do not have a spending problem; we have a funding problem. The amount of money the district received this past year from the State of Ohio was $2.2 million less than the previous year and is expected to be about $1.5 million less next year. To address our financial picture, the Board of Education voted unanimously to place a 1.25% earned income tax on the November 3 ballot. If the issue passes, the district will also roll back one mill of property taxes, which will provide savings to homeowners. Earned income includes wages, salaries, tips, and income from self-employment (like sole proprietorships and partnerships). Excluded income includes unearned income such as retirement pensions, 401Ks, Social Security, interest, dividends, capital gains, and unemployment benefits.    Vouchers I’ve mentioned vouchers in previous years’ welcome messages; they loom larger than ever. Vouchers are public money for students attending private schools, and they’ve taken an increasingly larger share of the money the state allocates to education. The voucher program began in 2008 as a pilot program and cost $42 million. It’s grown to over $1 billion, an increase of over 2280%. This money is primarily going to families who are already sending their students to private schools, and it means less money is available for Ohio’s 600+ public school districts.  Franklin City Schools joined hundreds of Ohio districts in a lawsuit against the state’s voucher program (see more information). On June 24, 2025, Franklin County judge Jaiza Page ruled Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional on 3 of 5 counts; she stayed the decision, meaning that vouchers can continue while the lawsuit goes through the appeals process. On May 12, 2026, this case was argued in the Tenth District Court of Appeals. We eagerly await the Appeals Court’s ruling.    Please reach out! As always, we appreciate and welcome your partnership and involvement as we educate the students of our community. If you’re wondering how to get involved, here are a few ideas: read with your children and ask about their classes; be a room parent; attend a school board meeting; volunteer with the elementary PTO; join a booster group; and attend your child’s events and performances.    If you have questions or concerns about Franklin City Schools, don’t hesitate to contact me at (937) 746-1699 or msander@franklincityschools.com.   Sincerely, Dr. Michael D. Sander, Superintendent

    Monday, Aug 10 2026

  • July 30 Press Release: Earned Income Tax on November...

    IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2026 The Franklin City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to place a 1.25% earned income tax on the November 3 ballot. If the levy passes, the district will also roll back one mill of property taxes, which will provide savings to homeowners.  This issue is for new operating money and is for a 5-year term. It is NOT a property tax. It is an earned income tax and will primarily be collected by employers (regardless of their location) from people who live in the Franklin City School district. Self-employed individuals pay the tax via quarterly estimates. Earned income includes wages, salaries, tips, and from self-employment (like sole proprietorships and partnerships).  Excluded income includes unearned income such as retirement pensions, 401Ks, Social Security, interest, dividends, capital gains, and unemployment benefits.  Taxes would first be collected in 2027 and will raise approximately $7,375,591 annually.  Property tax relief will NOT be on the ballot; the board sent a resolution to the Warren County Auditor’s office to roll back property taxes if the levy passes. Dr. Michael Sander, superintendent of schools, said “We understand that our community’s senior citizens are facing higher property taxes without a corresponding rise in their incomes. This tax issue should help seniors in two ways—by not taxing retirement income AND actually reducing property taxes—while at the same time raising funds that the district needs desperately. Sander also noted, “The district managed our finances to make the new money from the 2014 levy last for 12 years, but we’re looking at a negative cash balance for fiscal year 2029.” Since the ’22-’23 school year, FCS has cut a cumulative $11,726,500. With the failure of recent levies, the district reduced expenses by an additional $3.15 million for 2026-2027. Reductions and impacts to services and programs for our students have included reducing busing to state minimums, increasing classroom sizes and extracurricular participation fees, and eliminating all-day kindergarten. 2026-2027 cuts included a reduction in employees and contracted personnel and delaying curriculum updates. Sander said, “It’s not an easy decision to ask our residents for additional monies, but unfortunately, Ohio’s school funding system relies heavily on local taxpayers. An added blow is that the amount of money the district received this past year from the State of Ohio was $2.2 million less than the previous year and is expected to be about $1.5 million less next year."  Sander added, “Instead of proposing a property tax, the board decided to put an income tax on the ballot that includes some property tax relief because options for property tax levies have been constrained by the Ohio legislature. A growing number of districts (210) across Ohio are choosing the income tax approach.” If you have questions, feel free to contact the superintendent’s office at (937) 746-1699 or attend a Franklin Board of Education meeting. Public comments are welcome. Board of Education meeting dates are posted on the district website ( www.franklincityschools.com ) and social media.

    Thursday, Jul 30 2026

  • Wildcat Community News June 2026

    Wildcat Community News 2025-26, Issue #3 June 16, 2026 Greetings from the Superintendent! Wildcat families: We’ve wrapped up another school year; congratulations to the Class of 2026! They received their diplomas on May 17 at UD Arena. If you couldn’t attend and would like to see the ceremony, it is available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/LAppElBud6I The class included our second cohort of students who graduated with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree from Miami Regionals through the Early College Academy. We are proud to be a part of this partnership which saves families thousands of dollars in tuition and gives students a head start. Our fourth cohort of ECA students (nine rising juniors) begins this fall. The Board of Education recently adopted updated mission and vision statements; please see the next article for details about those.  Franklin City Schools views education as a partnership among students, families, and the community at large. We could not do this without you. We have noted several partnerships later in this newsletter. If you have questions or concerns about Franklin City Schools, don’t hesitate to contact me at (937) 746-1699 or msander@franklincityschools.com.   Sincerely, Dr. Michael D. Sander, Superintendent   In this issue: Mission On March 23, the Franklin City Schools Board of Education adopted new mission and vision statements. Mission: Together, proudly educating the future of Franklin. The Board also adopted The Wildcat Pride Goal and The Wildcat Pride Objectives based on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Ohio State Report Card star ratings.  Vision By 2032, Franklin City Schools will be a state-recognized 4-Star district where EVERY Wildcat thrives. We will be the place where: — Academic excellence is the standard. — Families, educators, and community partners stand together, modeling Wildcat pride. — Safe, innovative schools are provided. — Gaps narrow, attendance matters, and every student is actively engaged. — Students are prepared to lead in a rapidly changing and diverse world. — Every student graduates ready for their future.   Student Achievement The Franklin Board of Education honored students at board meetings during the second semester. May: Killian Kinner was honored for earning first place in the Apprentice Category at the Ohio Braille Challenge! His outstanding scores qualified him to advance to the International Braille Challenge in Los Angeles in June. He also received Hunter Elementary’s Irelynn Cunningham award. April: Franklin Junior High students were honored for earning 10 quarters of straight A’s. Students honored were Jase Bowermaster, Bryce Donisi, Bailey Gordon, Quinn Smallwood, and Dane Timler. February: Franklin Junior High and Intermediate students were honored for earning 10 quarters of straight A’s: Students honored were Brooklyn Crase, Landon Shumaker, Reese Centers, Audrey Allen, Jonathan Bethel, Paislee Lamb, and Stone Smith. The student achievement form is available on the district website: https://ow.ly/Yc9w50W6loK   ROAR Champions The second group of ROAR champions was recognized at recent board meetings. Students honored were Connor Ramsey (FHS), Kennedy Carmack (FJHS), Macy Wagers (Intermediate), Brynn Donisi (Hunter), Camden Penwell (Gerke), Samara Garcia Camacho (Schenck), and Scarlett Lang (Schenck). ROAR Champions were selected by their buildings for consistently embodying the district's core Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) characteristics: Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility. While the district has honored hundreds of students since establishing the Student Achievement Award in 2001, previous honors have traditionally focused on academic metrics, such as high test scores or maintaining straight A’s. The Student Achievement Committee recently expanded the criteria to recognize students who excel in "future-ready skills." The Board will recognize new ROAR Champions quarterly to highlight the positive contributions students make as they grow into successful citizens.   Preschool again earns highest rating! Franklin Preschool, located at Schenck Elementary, has again earned the highest quality rating from the State of Ohio through Ohio’s Step Up To Quality program, receiving a prestigious Gold Rating for excellence in early childhood education. The preschool has earned the highest possible rating for nine straight years. Step Up To Quality, Ohio’s statewide quality rating and improvement system, recognizes preschool and childcare programs that meet standards above and beyond basic licensing requirements. To earn a Gold Rating, programs must show a strong commitment to high-quality teaching practices, staff professional development, family engagement, and continuous improvement. Franklin Preschool, established in 2002, is dedicated to creating a safe, engaging, and supportive learning environment to help prepare young learners for future academic success. Gold-rated programs meet rigorous standards that promote early learning and kindergarten readiness. The preschool operates two morning and two afternoon sessions, with 16 in each class for a total of 64 students. Half are typical students and half are children with special needs. Franklin City Schools’ leadership and preschool staff are proud to offer a program that provides our youngest learners with exceptional learning opportunities. Preschool staff are pictured here: Jessica Lacy, Meg Byrge, Sarah Penwell, Julie Ratliff and Honey, Debbie Forward, Jesika Zellers, and Courtney Dunn.   New driver-education program brings training directly to Franklin High School Franklin High School students can now complete their driver-education training without leaving campus, thanks to a partnership with B-SAFE Driving Education. B-SAFE offers classes at Carlisle and Trenton locations and now has partnerships with several high schools, including Franklin, to hold training at high school campuses. There is no cost to the district for this program. Ohio requires teens to complete 24 hours of in-class instruction and 8 hours of in-car instruction. Read more at our district blog: https://ow.ly/56VT50Z9pJ0 Students pictured are from the June 2026 class.   Wlidcat Olympics The ninth annual Wildcat Olympics was held on a gorgeous May morning. The event brings the district’s students with specialized needs together for a parade, field events, and lunch at the stadium. Cheering families, friends, and much of the entire student body watched from the stands or lined the track as staff, community members, and FHS students assisted with events. Classes paraded around the track to the Olympic theme before competing in a 100-yard dash, obstacle course, and long jump. Wildcat Olympics, brainchild of teacher Abby Smallwood, is designed to celebrate students, families, and staff. A video is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehjA-En_moc   2026 Project Excellence Winner: Melissa Edwards Edwards taught for 22 years, four at Carlisle and 18 at Franklin, teaching high school English for all but two of those; she took 10 years off between to be home with their daughters.  Edwards said, “The best part of teaching, the most miraculous part, is watching young people grow from having little confidence or faith in themselves to finding their worth and their voice. Those moments transcend subject matter or test scores. Cultivating those moments is my main purpose.” She said she doesn’t have a particular memorable moment from teaching but instead has “a recurring experience. Nothing amazes me more than former students telling me something I once said in class that changed their perspective about themselves or the world. Most of the time, I have no memory of what I had said, but the fact that it stayed with them reinforces how careful we must be when speaking to young people. They may not act like it, but they absorb everything.” Edwards, who grew up in Centerville with her grandparents, earned her degrees at Wright State University: A bachelor's in Secondary English Education and a master’s in education.  She said that being named a Project Excellence winner “has been a meaningful and humbling surprise for me because it came from my colleagues, whom I love and respect. We may teach our classes alone in our rooms, but our strength, passion, and creativity come from our professional relationships. This important work is simply unsustainable without the support of our peers.” She added, “I so appreciate the support of my administrators, co-workers, friends, and family. They are all blessings to me.” 2026 Project Excellence Winner: Madison Lambdin Madison Lambdin has been teaching for two years, both at Franklin. She’s an intervention specialist and teaches in an extended resource classroom at Gerke for first and second grade. She’s a graduate of Milford High School and earned her bachelor’s in special education (K-12, mild-moderate and moderate intensive) from Miami University, Oxford.  She said that what she enjoys most about teaching is “seeing growth in each of my students. Working in a small setting allows me to build strong connections with each of my students and see the improvement that they make in academic and functional skills. Even when growth is small, it means so much to me to see how much they improve.” Lambdin noted how much she enjoys the Wildcat Olympics. “The Wildcat Olympics allow students in the extended resource classrooms across the district to participate in various activities and sporting events. It is so special to see students and staff from all over the district come together and support our students. Seeing the joy on my students’ faces as they participate in events and get recognized on the podium is so heartwarming. It is a great way to end the year with my students. She added, “I am so honored to be named a Project Excellence winner. To be recognized in a profession that is built on passion, patience and purpose means more to me than I can fully express. I have learned a lot over the past two years, and I am excited to continue to grow as an educator.”   District Art Show Student talent from grades 1-12 was showcased at the District Art Show in May. Here is a link to a sample of the art that was hanging in the FHS Commons. Franklin Junior High also created digital art projects. You may view those here.   School voucher lawsuit heard by appeals court Franklin City Schools is one of hundreds of Ohio districts in a lawsuit challenging the state’s voucher program (see more information). On June 24, 2025, Franklin County judge Jaiza Page ruled Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional on 3 of 5 counts; she stayed the decision, meaning that vouchers could continue while the lawsuit goes through appeals. The 10th District Court of Appeals heard arguments on May 12, 2026. An article from the Statehouse News Bureau describes the hearing. Vouchers have been found unconstitutional in other states including Utah, Nevada, Kentucky, South Carolina, and North Carolina.   Finances FAIR SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN WAS ABANDONED Per Policy Matters Ohio, "the Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) was based on the actual cost of educating every student. It would have provided an additional $3 billion to Ohio school districts over the biennium." The bipartisan plan was essentially adandoned and the additional amount of funding to Ohio's public schools over the biennium (the State of Ohio's operatiing budget is passed every two years) is $282 million. OHIO'S PROPERTY TAX CRISIS The Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) is a private, not-for-profit organization that serves superintendents and other administrators throughout Ohio. Their recent newsletter included an article by Christopher S. Mohr, MBA, RSBA, CGFM President, K-12 Business Consulting, Inc., titled "Who’s To Blame for The Property Tax Crisis?" An excerpt: "Ohio is currently grappling with a property tax crisis that represents more than a mere fiscal fluctuation; it is an existential threat to local self-governance and the long-term stability of our public schools. …. This crisis is the direct consequence of intentional state-level policy choices that have systematically shifted the state’s share of funding essential services onto the individual homeowner." (Emphasis added.) "In 1975, the property tax burden was more equitably distributed, with businesses contributing 53.9% of the total and residential or agricultural owners contributing 46.1%. By 2023 …. the business share has plummeted to 32.5%, while the residential and agricultural share has surged to 67.5%."  Read the remainder of the article here. What does this mean for Franklin City Schools? FCS is receiving approximately $1.8 million fewer dollars from the state of Ohio this school year than last, an 11% decrease. Over the next 5 years, FCS will receive a total of about $15 million fewer dollars. In addition, due to new property tax laws, the state cut our local revenue projections over the next five years and the district will receive approximately $4.5 million fewer dollars. In total, the district will see approximately $20 million fewer dollars over the next five years. This means the district is forced to make tough choices that may include reducing some necessary items. FCS tries to provide the best education, services, and programs to our community and students with the resources it receives.  FINANCE FRIDAYS Every few weeks, the district posts a “Finance Fridays” blurb on our district social media. We urge you to follow our social media accounts to see these posts, as well as the other information and pictures we post. Facebook: www.facebook.com/FranklinCitySchools Instagram: fcswildcatpride   Quick News Shorts New website launches this summer: The district is launching a new website this summer; it’s projected to go live in late July. Other than a small charge for migrating our current website’s content, the cost to the district is a wash between the old and new sites. The new site will be hosted by SmartSites, which is ParentSquare's website platform. The website address will not change: franklincityschools.com. Senior passes: Senior citizens (age 62+) who live in the Franklin City School district may pick up a pass at the District Welcome Center (754 E. 4th St.) that will allow them to attend school-sponsored activities at no charge. The pass never expires and is good for any home game (excluding tournaments) and high school plays. Residents should take their driver’s license with them to confirm their address.  Athletics website: Did you know that athletics has its own website? Check out https://www.gowildcatathletics.com/ for schedules, news, rosters, and more.  Hall of Fame: If you would like to nominate someone for the Hall of Fame, please use this form. Nominations are accepted year round. HOF committee members include Steve Peters, Rick Chamberlain, Lori Raleigh, Andy Fleming, Marvin Sands, Bob Knipper, Jeff Kirby, Brad Childers, Amy Miller, and Susan Hollon. Nominations are accepted year-round. Since they graduated from Franklin High School, these outstanding individuals have served their communities, their country, and the world. A list of the Hall of Fame members and their induction year is available on our website.  Our district newsletter format has changed: The district published and mailed a printed newsletter to district residents four times/year starting in 2015. We have moved to this electronic format for several reasons:  The newsletter was one-way communication. We want to hear from the community; using an electronic format, we can post the newsletter on our district Facebook page and website and embedded links can direct you to other articles and information. It will also allow you to provide feedback via communications@franklincityschools.com The hard-copy newsletter wasn’t translatable for our ELL families.  An electronic newsletter is much less expensive and can be shared more widely. We can embed links to stories, pictures, and videos. School Board Meetings: As always, school board meetings are open to the public and the board welcomes you. Every board meeting includes time for public comments; for legal purposes, you are asked to state your name and address before you speak. The board meeting schedule is on our website and any changes are posted on the green banner on the home page. The board meeting agenda is posted by 3 p.m. on the Friday prior to the meeting; you may also look at previous meeting agendas and read minutes from previous board meetings.    Partnerships Franklin City Schools is fortunate to have partnerships with a myriad of businesses and organizations who support our district and students. The board of education recently recognized several partners. Orioles: Members of Franklin-based Orioles Nest #263 recently donated many thousands of dollars to Franklin City Schools to cover student fees. The Orioles on hand to present the check at a Board of Education meeting were Jonathan and Sara Milligan and Doug Adams. Franklin First United Methodist Church: Jim Rhodes presented a Community Partnership Award to Pastor Laura Saunders. Over the past 11 years and counting, Franklin First has provided over 41,000 weekend kindness/food bags to students (125 students/year totaling 3,740 bags/year). Franklin First has provided after-school 1:1 tutoring for more than eight years, with participating students showing growth in reading skills. The church has donated clothing to students and provided meals to staff during conference nights, holiday breakfasts, and treats for teacher appreciation. Grace Point Fellowship: Jeremy Ward presented a Community Partnership Award to Grace Point Fellowship and noted that their two-year partnership with Hunter Elementary has included Grace Point assisting with Title family events, providing meals for staff during parent-teacher conferences, involvement with teacher appreciation week, and ROAR award events. He thanked them for their collaboration and being a great community resource. Shared Harvest: Kim Irgens presented a Community Partnership award to Shared Harvest for their support in creating a food pantry at Franklin Intermediate. The pantry hosted 33 parent shopping visits and provided 7560 pounds of food and 481 backpacks of food. Our district is also a partner TO the community. A recent example is the cheerleading squad adding energy and excitement to the grand opening of the new Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken restaurant.   Please stay in touch! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach us at communications@franklincityschools.com. Please follow us on Facebook, on Instagram at fcswildcatpride, and stop by our website: www.franklincityschools.com.

    Tuesday, Jun 16 2026

  • Wildcat Community News February 2026

    Wildcat Community News 2025-26, Issue #2 February 4, 2026 Greetings from the Superintendent! Wildcat families: We hope you’re staying safe and warm; the snow and cold have challenged districts, students, and families all over the country who are navigating the disruption caused by delays and closures. In my role as superintendent, I’m gratified by the many organizations that partner with our district, ranging from colleges and industries that provide post-secondary information to organizations who provide support with tutoring and basic needs. Just one example: On March 13, FHS will host a college and career fair for our freshmen. No doubt this will be a success because community partners will show up for our students. If you’d like to know more, click here. Franklin City Schools views education as a partnership among students, families, and the community at large. We could not do this without you.  If you have questions or concerns about Franklin City Schools, don’t hesitate to contact me at (937) 746-1699 or msander@franklincityschools.com.   Sincerely, Dr. Michael D. Sander, Superintendent   In this issue: Student Achievement At many meetings, the Board of Education honors students for achievement. On Sept. 22, the Board recognized several FHS and FJHS students for outstanding achievement. Honorees included recipients of the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Wildcat of the Year awards, winners of the Archie Griffen Award, students who earned a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement U.S. History and U.S. Government and Politics exams, and those who achieved ten quarters of straight A's. Recognized students were Violet Barcalow, Holden Turnmire, Evan Hildreth, Cooper Cronk, Tyler Denison-Drake, Marissa Tharp, Kennedy Carmack, Baylor Lafferty, Emma Leggett, and Bentley McClure. In Oct., students who had earned 10 quarters of straight A's were recognized. Honorees included Elizabeth Carmack, McKenna Duchemin, Brooklyn Hall, Hailey Hughes, Emma Kellet, Marilynn Perkins, Amelia Benning, Marley Clark, Madison Courtney, and Savannah Starcher. On Nov. 17, the Board recognized twelve students who scored proficient on the OELPA (Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment), the test that Ohio uses to determine an English-language-learner's progress toward English proficiency. Students honored for this achievement were Nathalia Ybarra, Ikra Krasniqi, Halizeta Yasmine Bamogo, Bridget Mendez, John Terrence Resurrection, Mirabel Garti, Alba Rose Gonzalez De La Cruz, Edgar Guinez-Alvarez, Jan Carlo Pasquette Gutierrez, Angelina Wang, Maly Guisse, and Jose Mendez. The nomination form is available on the district website. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/Yc9w50W6loK   ROAR Champions The Board of Education recognized outstanding students at its Feb. 2 meeting, including seven who are the inaugural class of ROAR Champions. ROAR Champions were selected by their buildings for consistently embodying the district's core Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) characteristics: Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility. ROAR Champions included two students from Schenck (a.m. and p.m. kindergarten) and one representative each from the other buildings. Students honored were Bristol Brewer and Myannah Novak (Schenck); Marlee Work (Gerke); Trey Haney (Hunter); Lorelei Work (Intermediate); Miah Smith (FJHS); and Alex Kincaid (FHS). While the district has honored hundreds of students since establishing the Student Achievement Award in 2001, previous honors have traditionally focused on academic metrics, such as high test scores or maintaining straight A’s. The Student Achievement Committee recently expanded the criteria to recognize students who excel in "future-ready skills." The Board will recognize new ROAR Champions quarterly to highlight the positive contributions students make as they grow into successful citizens.   Marching Band and Guard Marching Band and Guard's record-breaking season! The Franklin High School Marching Band and Color Guard concluded their 2025 season with an incredible run of success, culminating in their performance at the Mid-States Band Association (MSBA) Championships. This year’s thrilling show, "Breakout” by Randall Standridge, captivated audiences and judges with its high-energy theme centered on prisoners attempting a jailbreak.  The band took the field with a polished look, thanks to continued support from the community. A generous grant from the Middletown Community Foundation allowed the program to purchase brand-new hats this year, perfectly complementing the new uniforms acquired last season after several years of dedicated fundraising. The students not only performed at a high level but also looked the part of a championship team. The band and guard consistently delivered outstanding performances throughout the competition season. Their dedication resulted in an historic achievement: setting the highest score on record for Franklin and qualifying for the MSBA finals for the first time in school history! The color guard earned Best Guard/Auxiliary at 5 out of the 6 competitions, including at the MSBA championship. The students, directors, and staff worked tirelessly to reach this level of achievement. The group including band, percussion, and guard, has approximately 60 members. Leaders are band director Josh Long, color guard instructor Missy Townsend, and percussion instructor Cory Seibert; they are assisted by many other support staff. The program will graduate 12 seniors this year. Please join us in congratulating the marching band and guard on a memorable and successful 2025 season.    8th Grade Students Visit DC, Gettysburg Ninety-three eighth graders visited Washington, D.C. to tour The White House, The Capitol grounds, Arlington National Cemetery, The National Holocaust Museum, and The Kennedy Center. The monuments and memorials they visited included those for Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR, MLK, Pentagon 9-11, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Eisenhower, and Einstein. Four students earned the honor of presenting a wreath to represent Franklin at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Lily Banks, Emma Leggett, Madden Gibson, and Carter Bernard were selected based on essays they wrote in their history classes. Students also toured the town and battlefields of Gettysburg, led by knowledgeable tour guides, and saw Little Round Top, Devil's Den (named after a legendary snake), McPherson's Woods, Jenny Wade's House, and Cemetery Hill. Some students participated in a cannon-loading reenactment while others had the chance to climb the watchtower.   Community/Alumni 2025 Hall of Fame: Franklin High School inducted six members into the FHS Hall of Fame (HOF) in September. They joined the 122 members inducted in prior years. 2025 inductees include Nancy Sharts Hopko (Class of 1971); Holly Mears Daniels (Class of 1985); Kyle Blackford (Class of 2009); Tony Donisi (Class of 1972); Corbett Caudill (Class of 1961); and Eddie Wallace (Class of 1984). You are invited to read about their extensive accomplishments: Nancy Sharts Hopko: https://ow.ly/L1VT50WYXKA; Holly Mears Daniels: https://ow.ly/CieG50WYXKG; Kyle Blackford: https://ow.ly/M12Q50WYXKy; Tony Donisi: https://ow.ly/EkG550WYXKH; Corbett Caudill: https://ow.ly/eLrF50WYXKB; and Eddie Wallace: https://ow.ly/28qB50WYXKF. HOF committee members include Steve Peters, Rick Chamberlain, Lori Raleigh, Andy Fleming, Marvin Sands, Bob Knipper, Jeff Kirby, Brad Childers, Amy Miller, and Susan Hollon. Nominations are accepted year-round. The nomination form is available online here: https://ow.ly/6uE250WYXKz Since they graduated from Franklin High School, these outstanding individuals have served their communities, their country, and the world. A list of the Hall of Fame members and their induction year is available on our website.  If you would like to nominate someone for the Hall of Fame, please use this form. Beyond the Hall of Fame Spotlight on Alums: FCS has an abundance of alumni who are contributing to their communities and beyond. The district plans to recognize alums on social media and in this newsletter. We just profiled Jared Erwin, Class of 2023. Read the press release about the national award he received in mid-January and visit our Facebook page for more details about Jared. If you know an alum we should profile on district social media, please email communications@franklincityschools.com. Senior passes: Senior citizens (age 62+) who live in the Franklin City School district may pick up a pass at the District Welcome Center (754 E. 4th St.) that will allow them to attend school-sponsored activities at no charge. The pass never expires and is good for any home game (excluding tournaments) and high school plays. Residents should take their driver’s license with them to confirm their address.    District Joins Lawsuit Franklin City Schools has joined hundreds of Ohio districts in a lawsuit challanging the state’s voucher program (see more information). On June 24, Franklin County judge Jaiza Page ruled Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional on 3 of 5 counts; she stayed the decision, meaning that vouchers can continue while the lawsuit goes through appeals. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost did file an appeal on July 24, so the case is headed to trial. Vouchers have also been found unconstitutional in other states including Utah, Nevada, Kentucky, South Carolina, and North Carolina.   Finances Since the ’22-’23 school year, Franklin City Schools has cut a cumulative $11,726,500. Based on ’24-’25 spending data on the state report card, Franklin City Schools is now among the 20% of public districts in Ohio with the lowest operating expenses per pupil. Expense reductions will rise and our ranking will worsen with the additional cuts necessitated by the recent levy failure. These are the additional cuts outlined by the Board of Education. Please know that these were difficult decisions and that we know they have created hardships for many families. Cutting expenses is difficult, and we’ve made every attempt to minimize disruption to classroom learning. The district’s budget projections were based on flat funding from the State of Ohio; however, the state’s budget actually gives us $1 million LESS over the next two years. Treasurer Kevin Hawley provided this financial update on January 12, 2026. This financial struggle is not limited to Franklin. Districts all over Ohio are struggling. See this one-page summary from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators Ohio Superintendent Association. For decades, state tax policy has shifted more of the responsibility away from businesses and the state, and onto families. In 1991, Ohio homeowners and farmers paid 47% of school property taxes. Today, that share is nearly 70%. According to an Auditor of State report, since 2000, state revenues for education have actually declined after adjusting for inflation, and per-pupil funding has grown only 6% in 22 years. INCOME TAX LEVY The Franklin City Schools Board of Education has taken steps to place a 1% traditional income tax on the May 2026 ballot.  This issue is for new operating money and is for a 10-year term.  It is an income tax rather than property tax and primarily will be collected by employers from people who live in the Franklin City Schools’ district.  Income that is taxed uses the same income base that the State of Ohio uses for their income tax (line 5 of the state return).  Income that is NOT taxed includes social security benefits; disability and survivor benefits; railroad retirement benefits; welfare benefits; child support; property received as a gift, bequest, or inheritance; and workers’ compensation benefits. Taxes would first be collected in 2027.  The issue is estimated to raise $6,680,588 annually. FINANCE FRIDAYS Every few weeks, the district posts a “Finance Fridays” blurb on our district social media. We urge you to follow our social media accounts to see these posts, as well as the other information and pictures we post. Facebook: www.facebook.com/FranklinCitySchools Instagram: fcswildcatpride   Quick News Shorts Athletics website: Did you know that athletics has its own website? Check out https://www.gowildcatathletics.com/ for schedules, news, rosters, and more.  Our district newsletter format has changed: The district published and mailed a printed newsletter to district residents four times/year starting in 2015. We have moved to this electronic format for several reasons:  The newsletter was one-way communication. We want to hear from the community; using an electronic format, we can post the newsletter on our district Facebook page and website and embedded links can direct you to other articles and information. It will also allow you to provide feedback via communications@franklincityschools.com The hard-copy newsletter wasn’t translatable for our ELL families.  An electronic newsletter is much less expensive and can be shared more widely. We can embed links to stories, pictures, and videos. School Board Meetings: As always, school board meetings are open to the public and the board welcomes you. Every board meeting includes time for public comments; for legal purposes, you are asked to state your name and address before you speak. The board meeting schedule is on our website and any changes are posted on the green banner on the home page. The board meeting agenda is posted by 3 p.m. on the Friday prior to the meeting; you may also look at previous meeting agendas and read minutes from previous board meetings. Board meetings are also audio recorded and available for listening at your convenience. This folder includes 2025 and 2026 meetings. Town Hall meetings: The district is now scheduling regular town hall meetings where you can ask questions of the district admins and board members. Watch ParentSquare, our website, and social media for dates. We had two Town Hall meetings last fall. Watch for details about 2026 Town Hall events.   Partnerships It takes a village. Dozens of businesses and organizations partner with Franklin City Schools to support our students and families. The scope of support was recently showcased at the Student Resource Expo in October, with community partners filling the FHS Commons and gym with informational tables and displays. Partners ranged from Miami University Regionals’ Early College Academy to Ohio Means Jobs, area churches, boosters groups, and Blue Star families. Our district is committed to serving our students and if we identify a need, we look for a way to meet it. Some organizations provide enrichment opportunities and financial support while others offer helping hands with literacy tutoring, shoes and socks, school supplies, and dental care. M&S Flooring raised $7,000 with a .5K “Walk for a Purpose” and used $500 to pay off seniors’ fees and $6,500 toward purchasing Christmas gifts for children. 1N5 provides suicide prevention support in conjunction with the Sources of Strength program at Franklin High School and FJHS. If you would like for the board to honor and thank one of our many district partners, please consider nomintating them for our "Friend of the District" award. The district is also a partner TO the community, with outreach to area organizations by our arts groups (vocal and instrumental performances), food drives to assist with community food baskets, and the high school’s recent “Keep a Wildcat Warm” winter clothing drive.    Please stay in touch! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach us at communications@franklincityschools.com. Please follow us on Facebook, on Instagram at fcswildcatpride, and stop by our website: www.franklincityschools.com.

    Wednesday, Feb 04 2026

  • Safety Reminder for Arrival and Dismissal at Frankli...

    September 23, 2025 Good afternoon Franklin Junior High and Franklin Intermediate Families, It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the first quarter of the school year! Thank you for all your efforts to get students to and from school safely each day. That said, we continue to receive reports of concerns in the neighborhood surrounding the 4th Street campus. These include—but are not limited to—blocking driveways, speeding through residential streets, and students not consistently using sidewalks or crosswalks.  In particular, residents on Pam Dr. have reported interruptions to mail service, difficulty receiving deliveries, and daily frustration when some drivers do not adjust their behavior even after being asked. Both the district and the city have been contacted about these issues. Our ultimate goal is student safety. We’ve worked hard to make the drop-off/pick-up lines for both the Junior High and Intermediate as efficient as possible. This has included capital improvements on 4th Street and redirecting traffic flow around the buildings to expedite drop-off and pick-up. We strongly encourage all families to use the designated pick-up and drop-off lines rather than stopping in nearby neighborhoods. Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us keep our students and community safe. Sincerely, Kelli L. Fromm FCS Business Manager

    Tuesday, Sep 23 2025

  • Traffic Alert: Police Activity Near SR 123 and Sprin...

    Good afternoon, This is a message from the Franklin Police Department. There is currently a large police presence in the area of SR 123 and Spring Dr. Please keep this in mind as you travel to pick up your students at dismissal this afternoon. Police have confirmed that none of our schools are on lockdown, but they asked us to share this information so families can plan for possible traffic delays. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Sincerely, Kelli Fromm FCS Business Manager

    Monday, Sep 15 2025

  • Transportation Update 9/11/25

    Dear FCS Families, Effective October 6, 2025, FCS will begin transporting students in grades K–8 based on a 2-mile driving radius from school. The FCS Board of Education reached this decision after careful consideration of both student safety and the desire to maximize transportation capacity. Given our extremely limited financial resources, we remain committed to finding solutions that provide the best possible service while staying within our budget constraints. Once implementation of the current 2-mile radius calculation occurred, it was carefully examined to determine if additional bus stops could be added while maintaining the savings of the transportation cuts. Work is underway to update routes. Route sheets for the revised routes will be posted on the FCS website  after 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 . Detailed routing information will be available in the MyRide K-12 App on  Wednesday, October 1, 2025 . ParentSquare updates will be sent on these dates once the information is posted. Please note that the current pick up/drop off times may change due to the revised routes. We understand there have been many changes in the district over the past few years as we adapt to the ever-changing state of school funding. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciate your understanding and support as we adapt to the changes and work to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation for our students. Sincerely, FCS Adminis tration

    Thursday, Sep 11 2025