Education

The incoming chief of the Owensboro Public School system says fully-funding pre-Kindergarten programs would be the best education investment state lawmakers could make.

Nick Brake will take over as leader of Owensboro's school system July 1, following seven years with the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.

He told WKU Public Radio increased pre-K funding is money well spent.

"If you fully fund those programs, not only do you contribute three-to-one to their earnings later, but every dollar you spend there ends up saving the state money on the back end with benefit programs, criminal justice, and other savings," Brake said. "It's a long-term investment and sometimes those are difficult for public policy makers to swallow, but I think it's an investment that needs to be made."

Brake signed a four-year contract Monday to take over as leader of the Owensboro Public School system.

Owensboro Public Schools didn’t have to go far to find the new chief of its city school system. Nick Brake, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, has signed a four-year contract to lead Owensboro Public Schools.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports Brake will earn an initial annual salary of $144,000.

Current Owensboro schools superintendent Larry Vick will serve his last day on the job June 30.

The First Lady urged  the students at Eastern Kentucky University to apply the same resilience and hard work in school to their lives beyond campus and to seek out people with different beliefs.

Mrs. Obama paid tribute to more than 600 graduates Saturday night in a commencement ceremony at the school. She received a warm welcome from several thousand attending the ceremony at the campus arena in Richmond. She said that the work ethic and resilience that got the students to graduation day will serve them well as they face life's ups and downs.