Corbin School Board puts reciprocal agreement back in Knox County’s court

 Citing changing attitudes in Knox County which may lead to an agreement being reached, the Corbin Board of Education approved a nonresident student agreement with the Knox County School System for the 2014-15 school year.

The Corbin School Board met for approximately 20 minutes in executive session Thursday during a special called meeting after which the members unanimously voted to approve the new agreement.

“I feel the atmosphere is more conducive to an agreement,” said Corbin Schools Superintendent Ed McNeel

McNeel said the new agreement only covers the 2014-15 year. It will permit up to 405 Knox County Schools students to attend Corbin schools through the agreement. There is no limit on the number of Corbin students that may attend Knox County Schools.

“That is about the number of students from Knox County we have in Corbin Schools right now,” said McNeel when asked how the board arrived at that number as the cap.

At its January meeting, the Knox County Board of Education voted down a similar agreement.

Unlike previous votes, which were unanimous, or nearly unanimous against, two board members, Merrill Smith and Dexter Smith, voted to accept the agreement with Corbin.

In the Knox County proposal, the number of Knox County students who could attend Corbin schools through the reciprocal agreement would be capped at 405, at the suggestion of the Kentucky Department of Education.

McNeel said additional details such as how to determine who fills any of the available slots, will be worked out if the Knox County Board of Education approves the agreement

McNeel said siblings of current students will not likely be counted against the cap.

While Corbin’s proposal is for one school year, McNeel said there is nothing to stop the school systems from putting a multi-year agreement in place.

"Those are things that will have to be worked out,” McNeel said.