Staff Writer

FRANKLIN — Supporters of a charter school are hoping to have the alternative program in operation by this fall.

The proposal will be discussed by the Franklin School Board on Monday evening.

The alternative school is being proposed by the Franklin Business and Education Alliance.

Bill Grimm, a school board member, who first proposed a charter school to help students at risk of dropping out of school, has received a federal grant to help with the development of proposal.

Grimm said if the school is to start this fall, the board will have to approve waiving the required timelines. The proposal also requires the board and alliance have a contract. He does not expect this action to occur at Monday’s meeting, but said approval by the board and City Council needs to occur in May.

The expediency of the issue is generated by the availability of federal funds.

"We are in the federal system to obtain start up costs," Grimm said.

Alliance officials are looking to locate the alternative school in a city-owned building.

"We are looking at locations in the downtown area," he said.

The proposal calls for the school to open this fall with approximately 30 students, have 50-60 in the second year, and an estimated 100 to 120 by the end of the fifth year.

The academic program will provide courses in reading, writing and math, which are designed to help the at-risk students stay in school and meet state requirements for graduation.

The board will meet at the high school starting at 7 p.m..

This will be the first time the full board has discussed a charter school since it was first proposed last year as a way to lower the dropout rate.

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