FRANKLIN—J.P. King Middle and Franklin High will likely have a new comprehensive alternative education program when they reopen in September.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Belle presented the proposed alternative school program to the school board at Thursday night’s meeting. The proposed program would be housed at Franklin High School and operate from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Students in the alternative program would receive computer-based instruction, and the program would feature a dropout-prevention program and counseling services.

Board member Mary Eure, who has served on the board’s discipline committee, said the new alternative education program would have been helpful in the past.

“Had this been in place, I think we would’ve seen a difference,” she said. “Maybe the next committee won’t have so many hard decisions to make. This is good stuff.”

The discipline committee will refer students to the program. Belle said that the program has a cap of 15 students.

Belle also presented a divisionwide student conduct plan and a new divisionwide disciplinary referral, which she said is important when it comes to reporting discipline to the state.

“You do not want to be reported as a potentially dangerous school because you are improperly reporting discipline,” she said.

Belle also presented regulations for employees requesting leave without pay. She said that the attendance record of instructional staff should be as closely monitored as the attendance of the students.

“They should have an expectation too,” she said.

rd members reelected Bill Scarboro as chairman and Mona Murphy as vice chairman.