Knox Board of Education stands firm on decision to end reciprocal agreement

After an hour-long discussion Tuesday night that brought factual and emotional arguments from both sides of the reciprocal agreement stand-off between Knox County and Corbin Independent Schools, the Knox County Board of Education elected to take no action concerning it decision to end the annual agreement.

Newly appointed Board Chair Sam Watts said after listening to both sides, said he heard nothing that would lead him to change his vote to end the reciprocal agreement. This means an estimated 169 students who live in the Knox County School District,  but attend Corbin schools, will be unable to do so beginning in the 2010-11 school year unless they pay tuition, or find other legal arrangements.

“This is one of the hardest things I have had to do,” Watts said, noting he has a number of friends and family involved with the Corbin Independent School System. “But I feel its best for the Knox County School System.”

About and hour and half before the meeting in Knox County, the Corbin Independent Board of Education, which had sent a letter to the Knox County Board of Education asking the members to reconsider their decision, unanimously passed a motion to appeal Knox County’s decision to the Commissioner of Kentucky Department of Education, who has 30 days to respond. The commissioner’s decision may be appealed to the Kentucky Board of Education.

Corbin School Board Attorney Bob Hammons said the Kentucky Board of Education’s decision could then be appealed in Franklin Circuit Court.

Board members vowed to continue the appeal process as long as necessary or until there is nowhere left to appeal.

Melissa Shackleford, a parent of two elementary school children who attend Corbin because of the agreement, told the Knox County Board of Education that while individuals from the two school systems have gotten along for the 10 years the agreement has been in place, the decision to end it has created a civil war.

“Many people take it personally, especially the Knox County teachers,” Shackleford said. “We take it personally, too because it involves our most precious resource, our children.”

Shackleford received a standing ovation when she urged the Knox County Board to consider reversing the decision or, at least instituting a grandfather clause for the students already attending school.

Shackleford said the reciprocal agreement offered parents a choice, creating competition between the schools for students. That competition served as motivation to improve the education students are receiving at both school systems.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Walter T. Hulett said ending the agreement was another step in the effort to improve the financial situation of Knox County Schools.

Since 2006, Hulett noted the school system has seen a regular decline in enrollment and corresponding funding, resulting in the elimination of about 30 teachers, the closure of Artemus Elementary School and the decision to sell the old Lynn Camp High School and the Artemus elementary buildings. Add in the purchase of seven new school buses each year and the opening of the new Knox Central High School and its increased operating costs and the board has been forced to tighten the budget even further.

“All of that was done to avoid this type of decision,” Hulett said of ending the reciprocal agreement.

Shackleford asked if the Knox County Board of Education’s decision was about money, then why did it continue similar agreements with Barbourville, Williamsburg, Clay County, Middlesboro, Pineville and Whitley County school systems?

Hulett said previously that the number of Knox County students attending Corbin compared to the other schools was skewed, which resulted in the decision to end Corbin’s agreement.

While that may be true, Corbin High School freshman Dakota Gallimore said it will mean the end of a lot of good friendships he has with his fellow students, solid relationships he has with faculty and staff at Corbin High School and the end of his high school soccer career as neither Lynn Camp nor Knox Central field varsity soccer teams.

“Corbin is our home,” Gallimore said. “We want to continue our education at Corbin.”

Knox County Board of Education officials said while there was no vote or discussion on the matter because it was not on the agenda, it may be placed on the agenda at a future meeting by contacting Hulett and requesting the matter be placed on the agenda. However, Hulett has the final say as to whether it is placed on the agenda.

The board will meet again on Feb. 23. Regular meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month.