Partnership may bring career center

Hardin County Schools, Western Kentucky University, Central Kentucky Community Foundation and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College could be entering into a partnership that would bring the school district land for its proposed early-college and career center.

If approved by the HCS board and the WKU Board of Regents, the university would transfer 20 acres near Elizabethtown Community and Technical College to the school district, which would provide a location for the center, according to a WKU Board of Regents decision paper.

The university would sell the property to HCS for $1 if approved, according to the WKU document.

The HCS board will vote on aspects of the partnership at 10 a.m. Thursday at the district’s Central Office, according to an HCS advisory. The WKU Board of Regents will vote on the land transfer Friday, according to the Regents’ meeting agenda. The land transfer decision comes on the agenda after a vote on a contract for new football coach Bobby Petrino.

HCS officials plan to announce the partnership after the board’s special meeting Thursday. No one at the district wanted to comment on the plan until that then.

The district and the university are working on a memorandum of agreement to outline programs that would be offered by both parties, according to WKU. HCS and WKU would share maintenance and operational costs.

Central Kentucky Community Foundation transferred this piece of land to WKU in 2007 as a gift valued at $1.3 million, with the understanding the land would be used for a higher education building.

Foundation president Al Rider said the foundation still is working on details surrounding a provision in the deed with WKU. He said more of the foundation’s role will be outlined Thursday.

“We are excited to be a part of this announcement,” he said.

The center would serve as a high school and postsecondary education center, according to WKU’s decision paper.

HCS officials have been looking for a home for the proposed center for some time. They once discussed placing it in what is now G.C. Burkhead Elementary School, since the district is constructing a new building for Burkhead.

Mary Jo King, spokeswoman for ECTC, said no comments would be made until Thursday from schools on the plan.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.