FRANKLIN—The Franklin City Public Schools Board will host a public hearing this Thursday evening at 7:30 in the Franklin City Council Chamber on the process of hiring a new superintendent.

Stakeholders are asked to fill out a survey or attend the public hearing. The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FranklinCitySupt. Hard copies are also available at the school board’s office, each school administration office, the Franklin City Library and in local churches.

“Hiring a new superintendent is the biggest task facing a School Board and we want to make sure that the public has a voice in this process,” said School Board Chair Edna King in a public statement. “We hope that parents, staff and residents will take time to fill out the survey or attend the public hearing.”

Mayor Raystine Ashburn-Johnson said the people should take advantage of this being a public process.

“I encourage everyone to attend, participate and fill out the survey,” she said. “I think it is great to have a public process, and we need to utilize it when it comes forward.”

Ashburn-Johnson said the schools are very important to the future of Franklin.

“The whole school process and jurisdiction is important,” she said, adding that they have tried to increase the visibility and interest in the public for being nominated for the school board. Wards 1 and 3 are open for nomination, and people can be nominated come April at the city’s public hearing.

Ward 1 school board representative Will Councill echoed King in the importance of public input.

“This is one of the biggest jobs the board has is to find a new superintendent, and we need to get it right,” he said. “We need any input the community the community has as far as what they are looking for and what they think we need in a superintendent.

“I’m looking for a big crowd.”

Ward 2 school board representative Nancy Godwin, who won’t be there due to a prior obligation, said she encouraged people to be there.

“I hope we get as many people as possible,” Godwin said. “And if you can’t be there, at least fill out the survey online or through the hard copy.

“I am looking forward to starting the process and hearing what people’s opinions are.”

Surveys must be completed by Thursday as well, and hard copies must be received by School Board Clerk Pamela Kindred by Thursday.