News

The incoming president of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents says he fully backs efforts to increase the state's dropout age to 18.

Simpson County Superintendent Jim Flynn told WKU Public Radio he thinks some kids drop out because they know they aren't going to college. But Flynn believes the state is starting to do a better of identifying ways to help those not going into postsecondary education.

"Now that the state is focusing on multiple pathways into career and college readiness, it gives some students that may feel a little left out when the focus was simply on college readiness and proficiency only," says Flynn.

Flynn takes over as head of the state's Association of School Superintendents at the group's summer meeting this week in Bowling Green.

Future of Education Funding?

Flynn is hopeful that the state's improving economic outlook will boost chances for increased education funding.

The WKU Board of Regents will vote on the school’s next budget at a meeting Friday afternoon. The nearly $394 million spending plan for 2013-14 is a 1.4 percent increase over last year’s budget.

If approved, 46 percent of the revenue used to run WKU would come from tuition and student fees. Only 18 percent of the proposed budget comes from state funding.

The budget vote comes after several tumultuous months on the WKU campus. In April, the Council on Postsecondary Education rejected President Gary Ransdell’s request for a 5 percent tuition increase, granting just a 3 percent hike. Ransdell told WKU faculty and staff that the decision meant to school was going to have to cut jobs.

However, within a few weeks of that announcement, Ransdell said WKU Vice-Presidents had come up with enough ways to cut costs and shift personnel that nobody on campus would lose their job.

The WKU Board of Regents meets Friday, June 21, at 12:30 p.m. in the Cornelius A. Martin Regents Room in the Mass Media and Technology Hall.

You can see the complete agenda for Friday's meeting here.

Kentucky’s junior U.S. Senator says a growing number of young people agree with his stance that the federal government is infringing on the privacy rights of Americans.

Bowling Green Republican Rand Paul told CNN a recent poll conducted by the cable network proves his point. The CNN poll showed a 17 percentage point drop in support for Obama among those between the ages of 18 and 20.

Paul has been outspoken in recent months about the Republican Party’s need to reach out to groups that have been supporting Democratic candidates and causes, like young voters.

Paul has also been outspoken on his criticism of the National Security Agency, following new revelations surrounding data-surveillance programs that collect phone-call records from million of Americans and use U.S. internet companies to capture foreign communications.

Paul, who is thought to be preparing for a possible 2016 White House bid, told CNN the GOP should “do everything we can to protect our country, consistent with our Constitution.”

The Warren County Public School system has a new superintendent.

The Warren County Board of Education Tuesday night named Rob Clayton to succeed the retiring Tim Murley. Clayton has been the principal of South Oldham Middle School in Crestwood, KY for the past seven years. He's been in education for 20 years including the past 13 in administration.

Clayton says his three main goals are insuring the safety of students, assuring all students learn at a high level and that all graduates are ready for college or a career.

Clayton was one of three finalist the Warren County board interviewed. Board Chairman Kerry Young said Clayton stood out because of his leadership qualities.

Dr. Ching-Yi Lin of Bowling Green received a Jefferson Award Tuesday in Washington.

Dr. Lin, a world-class violinist, was recognized for sharing her talent within the community by serving as the director of the WKU pre-college strings program. That program has about 70 children between four and 18 years old studying the violin, viola and cello. Besides giving performances at area schools, her students also perform at local retirement homes, charities and businesses.

The Jefferson Award is given to exceptional Americans who strive to make their communities better and stronger. Recipients are nominated from throughout the country.

Besides leading the pre-college strings program, Dr. Lin is assistant professor of violin at WKU and Concertmaster of the Symphony at WKU.