Franklin Elementary School

Franklin Elementary School is named after Benjamin Franklin.  Just like Benjamin Franklin’s commitment to excellence, Franklin Elementary is also committed to student excellence and achieving our district and building mission of providing each student with a quality school experience. It is our ongoing goal to prepare each student to be successful in an ever-changing multicultural world.

The staff recognizes students as individuals and also knows that they all excel at different levels and in different areas. Teachers work creatively to use those differences to improve student achievement. By recognizing his or her abilities, we ensure that each student has a quality educational experience.

Our staff of nearly 50 teachers, support staff, Para-educators and staff who are highly qualified and committed to using an effective curriculum and partnering with parents and our community. We expect tremendous ongoing success. Our staff focuses on teaming and collaboration to assess ongoing student educational needs and continuous review of assessment data to drive classroom curriculum and activities. Through the use of creative and innovative teaching, along with research-based strategies and technology, we promote continuous growth.

• Pre-kindergarten program
• Annual all-day school-wide Field Day at Eberly Farms
• Annual school-wide Health Fair
• Annual school-wide Physical Education and Music Program
• Student activities such as United Way Campaign, Red Ribbon Celebration, Food Drive, and Student Red Cross Club.
• A variety of classroom field trips to support district standards such as fifth-grade trip to Topeka, Wichita Zoo, Great Plains Nature Center and Museum of Ancient World Treasures.
• District and community recognized staff: one distinguished teacher recipient and one Golden Apple recipient.

Franklin is located near the Historic Delano Neighborhood west of the Arkansas River and downtown Wichita. It is located near city attractions such as the Museums on the River, Exploration Place, Lawrence Dumont Stadium and Century II, the Hyatt and the new Waterwalk construction.

Exit west Kellogg at Seneca. Go north on Seneca to Maple. Go west at Maple to Elizabeth. Go North on Elizabeth one block to Franklin. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

• We believe all students will achieve, and “all’ means “all”.
• We strive to create a structured environment that is safe, secure, supportive and nurturing.
• We understand the importance of teaching respect, responsibility and accountability.
• Through the use of creative and innovative teaching, along with research-based strategies and technology, we promote continuous growth.
• By recognizing his or her abilities and diversity, we ensure that each student has a quality educational experience.

• READING - All students will show an increase in Vocabulary and Comprehension.
• MATH - All students will show an increase in number sense and data analysis.
• WRITING - All students will demonstrate improvement in writing skills across the curriculum.

Each school has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational problems and issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.

Meeting Day: First Tuesday of each month
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Art Room

• Title I School Wide Program: Title One funds help our teachers and staff members with various student needs to support learning and goals with basic school supplies, technology needs and family involvement needs.
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): This program provides our diverse population with the skills to learn English as a Second Language.
• Resource Teachers: Additional staff is available to help students meet district standards in math and reading. These teachers are highly trained in the intervention strategies to give the students extra assistance to help them be successful.
• Reading First program grant school with a full time Literacy Coach
• Full time Librarian
• Master schedule with Reading and Math Block Schedule
• KATS - Kids Action Thursday - an enrichment activities that support curriculum standards through a collaboration with community groups such as the Wichita Arts Partners.
• Parent Involvement Resource Room
• Reading is Fundamental program
• Kagan Cooperative Grouping activities and curriculum
• A variety of technology opportunities including Smart Boards, computers in each classroom, clickers, Airliners and internet access
• Before- and after-school program.

Kindergarten

All-Day Kindergarten: 9 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.

• Red Cross Club
• Strings
• All Day field day at Eberly Farms in the Spring
• Girls Scouts
• Boy Scouts

Franklin Elementary School, named after Benjamin Franklin, dates back to 1886 when a two-story brick building replaced the one-room frame structure on the present site. Later additions in 1901, 1905 and 1911 increased the number of classrooms from six to sixteen. Franklin School had an enrollment of 605 (grades one through eight) during the 1911-12 school year. Grades seven and eight were moved to intermediate school in 1921. Franklin PTA was organized in 1921-22 with Mrs. W.A. Mendenhall as president. Enrollment increased to 771.

In 1940-41 the Franklin PTA engaged Glenn Schaeffer, architect, to inspect the building. After reporting Franklin as a fire trap and generally in an unsafe condition, the Wichita Board of Education called for a bond election of $512,500 for Irving, Franklin, Kellogg and Harry Street schools. The bond issue passed on November 3, 1940 and construction on a new building started on April 18, 1941.

During construction, students attended classes in ten different schools as well as Trinity Methodist Church. Miss Gertrude Dowd became known as the "Circuit Riding Principal" as she had to ride a bus from school to school to fulfill her supervisory duties. The present building was open for classes on October 20, 1941. Official dedication services were held November 24, 1941.

During the year 1954-55 several portable classrooms were added to the Franklin site. Presently five portables remain on the site. Special education classes were housed at Franklin during the years 1953 to 1965. Franklin became a Title I school during the 1965-66 school year. In 1967 the library was enlarged to its present size.

In 1980 the office was remodeled and in 1983 alterations were made to the teachers lounge. In 1992 the boiler was replaced. In 1995 all windows were replaced with thermal pane steel windows.

At the beginning of the 1988-89 year, sixth grade students were incorporated into the middle school program, leaving a K-5 enrollment of approximately 250 students.

In 1995, Franklin shared a principal with Field Elementary School.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

The district utilized Spangenberg Phillips Architecture to develop Franklin's Bond Issue project. Conco, Inc. completed the construction, during which Franklin received a new addition that included 5 classrooms, a library, a multipurpose room, and a new kitchen. Renovation to classrooms, student support and the 2^nd floor restrooms were also included. The remodel and addition cost $2,471,600 to complete. The Bond project dedication ceremony was held October 24, 2002.

In the following school year, the district purchased property at 119 S. Martinson for $55,000 to replace property that was lost during the Bond construction. This property is adjacent to Franklin and is used as a playground area.