O’Dell to Address Franklin County Chamber Today

Franklin County School Superintendent Dr. Ruth O’Dell will give an overview of the state of education in the county when she comes before the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce at their quarterly luncheon.   

O’Dell is expected to talk about some of the initiatives and changes taking place within the school system and the increased partnership between the schools and parents.

One of those changes came last spring when the Franklin County Board of Education voted to combine Carnesville Elementary and Central Franklin Elementary into one school but split the grades.  Dr. O’Dell said the new arrangement so far appears to be working out well for students and teachers.

“Right now I’m feeling really good about it,” O’Dell said. “Of course we will re-evaluate it every year and see where we need to tweak things. Ms Gaines is doing a wonderful job along with her two assistants. The three of them make a good team.   So we’re learning new  things and that really was what the purpose was.”

The move to consolidate the two elementary schools in Carnesville was the result of another austere year financially for the school system and was an effort to keep from having to close one of the schools.

Other changes on the horizon include the completion and opening of the new core building at Franklin County High School in Carnesville. Dr. O’Dell said the work is ahead of schedule.

 “It looks absolutely fantastic,” she said. “The big thing right now is picking out furniture and paint colors, which we should have decided this week. Then, of course there’s a lot of grading around the building that has to be done. So several things that have to happen before we’re ready to move in.” 

Other final tasks include demolishing the rest of the old building and landscape the grounds before the new core building can open.  O’Dell said they expect the new building to be ready for the start of the 2014-2015 school year.