Education

Three finalists have been named for superintendent of Owensboro public schools. The Messenger-Inquirer reports the finalists are county school administrator Mark Owens, economic development leader Nick Brake, and Oldham County principal Rob Clayton.

The three were chosen from a pool of 16 applicants.

The new superintendent will be selected in early May to replace Larry Vick, who is retiring.

Kentucky education commissioner Terry Holliday says the first 57 school districts that raise their dropout age from 16 to 18 will be given a $10,000 state grant.

Holliday made the announcement Wednesday during a state Board of Education meeting in Frankfort. Just before the announcement, board members voted unanimously to adopt a resolution urging Kentucky's 174 school districts to raise the dropout age as soon as possible.

The board has for years been urging state lawmakers to raise Kentucky's legal dropout age to 18.

A compromise reached during this year's legislative session allows local districts to make their own decision on raising the age, but with a provision that once 55 percent of districts have done so, the change will be made statewide within four years.

The WKU Herald reports that WKU Provost Gordon Emslie is a candidate for the same position at the University of Alabama.

Emslie previously worked at the University of Alabama-Hunstville. Emslie took the WKU Provost position July 1, 2010.

The Herald report says Emslie refused to comment about his candidacy, but WKU President Gary Ransdell told the paper Emslie informed him of his interest in the Alabama job last week.