School board ups dropout age to 18

The Estill County Board of Education met in special session last week to vote on implementing SB97, which raises the legal drop out age from 16 to 18.
The recommendation came from Superintendent Bert Hensley along with several other policy changes.
The board voted to approve changing the local drop out age to 18, with all members voting yes, except Jon Bicnell, who abstained from the vote.
The new law went into effect two weeks ago and gives individual school district’s the right to change the compulsory attendance age to 18.
The law stipulates that districts making this change “must have programs and resources in place for students at risk of not graduating.
However, grant opportunities are place for school districts needing assistance with implementing such programs. The Kentucky Department of Education is offering $10,000 grants for districts that adopt or revise the drop out age.
The Estill County schoool board gave Hensley permission to begin applying for the grant monies.
SB 97 says the increased drop out age will not become mandatory statewide until 55 percent of the state’s school districts adopt it. That means 96 school districts need to approve the new attendance age for it to become a statewide standard. At press time, KDE was reporting that 75 school districts had adopted the changes.
The changes will not effect students until the 2015-2016 school year.
In other business, the school board:
•Approved the superintendents summative evaluation. Chairperson Patty Hood said the board was pleased with Hensley’s work.
“We commend him,” she said. “The board is in agreement he’s done an excellent job.”
•Approved a rollover extension for Hensley’s contract to a year beyond his current term with no increase pay. This extends Hensley’s contrac tto June 20, 2015.
•Approved schematic/design development documents for the Estill County High School restroom renovation project.
•Approved the treasurer’s claim and payment of bills.