FRANKLIN—The vote for the Franklin City School Board chair was 4-3, with Edna King edging out Will Councill for the position.

In a previous meeting Councill, Ward 1, and King, at-large, had been decided upon as the finalists for the position.

“I would like to express appreciation to the board for electing me to serve as the chair for the 2014-15 school year,” King said. “We have begun to make progress in our schools. We have begun the process of turning the system around.”

Councill wanted to let everyone know that this was not personal.

“Madam chair, I’d like you to know that I stand behind you 100 percent,” he said. “I will support you through the whole year. I want the board to stand united. Remember what you are here for, the proper education of children in Franklin.”

Then the matter of vice chair came up, which had previously been held by Johnetta Nichols, who served her maximum number of appointments at the end of this past year. Ward 2’s Nancy Godwin made the motion to nominate Councill for that position, and Ward 6’s Dawna Walton seconded it. With no other nominations coming forward, the board elected him as vice-chair 7-0.

With that Councill was encouraged to switch seats with Ward 3’s Dr. Andrea Hall-Leonard, so that he could take his place near the center of the dais.

For chair, Sherita Ricks Parker, Dr. Andrea Hall-Leonard, King and Jeanette Austin voted for King, while Councill, Dawna Walton and Nancy Godwin voted for Councill.

Hall-Leonard was away at a leadership conference, but an existing policy allowed her to phone in during the meeting.

“Can you hear me now?” Board Attorney Taylor Williams asked as Coordinator of Technology Services Josh Spaugh brought the phone up to his section of dais.

When Hall-Leonard acknowledged that she could hear him, and she explained why she was away. Williams then said the board would have to vote to accept her explanation. The vote carried 6-0.

King said that she wanted to assure the public that it was all about the children.

“I did not campaign for this role. I did not call anybody,” she said. “I left it where it should have been, in the hands of the Supreme Being. I go there for support.

“Regardless, always know the fact that we do nothing to damage the aspirations of students. I want to assure the public this evening, that children come first. They always have with me.”