EXTRA CONTENT: Corbin, Knox school boards to meet next week to discuss next moves following decision on reciprocal agreement dispute

See the letter from Knox County School Superintendent Walter Hulett regarding the decision.

Corbin and Knox County School boards will both be meeting to consider the next step in the saga of the reciprocal agreement dispute between the two school systems.

Corbin Schools Superintendent Ed McNeel said at its regular monthly meeting next Thursday, the board’s legal council will speak to the board about its options following Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday’s ruling to extend the reciprocal agreement through the 2010-11 school year while encouraging Corbin and Knox County school officials to try to resolve the dispute through mediation.

"Since this a board on board matter, it will be up to the board what action they want to take," McNeel said, noting he will not be offering a recommendation to the board.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is at 7:00 p.m. at the Board of Education Building on Roy Kidd Ave.

In a letter to Knox County Schools’ staff, Superintendent Walter T. Hulett said the Knox County Board of Education will have a special called meeting Tuesday. At the meeting, the board will go into executive session to discuss possible litigation. Though the discussion is not open to the public, the board must return to regular session before voting on a course of action.

"Please be encouraged that whichever course of action the Knox County Board of Education pursues, it will be in the best interest of all Knox County Students," Hulett said in the letter.

Under Kentucky law, either board may elect to appeal the commissioner’s decision to the Kentucky Board of Education. The board has 60 days from the time the appeal is filed to render a decision. That decision may then be appealed in Franklin Circuit Court.

The Knox County Board will meet at 6 p.m. in the Board Annex Building on Daniel Boone Drive in Barbourville.

In January, The Knox County Board of Education voted to end the reciprocal agreement that allows students living in the Knox County School District to attend Corbin Independent Schools without paying tuition, and visa versa.

Knox County officials cited the loss of state funding as the motivating factor in the decision. However, the board elected to continue similar agreements with Clay County, Bell County, Whitley County, Barbourville and Williamsburg Independent Schools. According to officials, more than 400 students living in Knox County attend Corbin schools.