By this time next year, some students in Warren County public Schools could be readying for take off and bracing for impact as a new learning center.

The impact Center for Leadership and Innovation is expected to open next year to give kids cutting edge learning experiences in aviation, AI and cyber systems, robotics, biomedical innovation and more.

Our Rene Shaw spoke with Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton about that, and how the district is handling the growth of the burgeoning county in educating kids.

Superintendent Rob Clayton, thank you so much for taking some time on a busy day.

You've been in school at the time.

We talked about a week or so, and I know that just from what I've read about the growth of the student population in Warren County, you guys might be bursting at the seams.

Talk to us about how larger school district is and how you're dealing with an ever growing student population.

Well, first of all, thank you, Renee, for having me.

I always enjoy hearing speak in education with you.

But as you mentioned, we are growing district.

We've grown each year.

Now, this being my 13th, school year here in Morton County schools, and we're anticipating hitting 19,000 students this year.

And so just for some perspective that, it's about an increase of little more than 5000 students over the last 12 years.

Since I've been here.

But in terms of capacity, our team really has always tried to forecast the future enrollment, the future growth of our city.

We work closely with our, planning and zoning, officials and our, local, leaders here about the growth in Warren County.

And we've been fortunate to be in a position where we can stay out in front.

Now, I would, have to share that there were a couple of years there that we really questioned.

Where are we going to be in a position to, to be able to stay up front.

But, fortunately we have, that's not to say that we don't have a lot of, students in our hallways, because we do.

But also, the modern facilities and that approach has really helped us is where, you know, maybe 20 years ago, some of the facilities would really be challenged in terms of their space just because of the building design.

But now, even though we have a limited capacity in each of our schools, our newer facilities can exceed that if necessary, as we're trying to plan for the next future school.

I want to give you an opportunity to talk about the impact center.

Right.

And our Laura Rogers, who is embedded here in Bowling Green, has done some great stories about this.

This innovative school that I understand will be the first of its kind, possibly in the world.

So talk to us about the populations of students that will be served and what kind of maybe specialty areas of, of skill and education they can receive once this building is up and going?

Well, we're extremely excited.

This is a five year long project.

Broke ground, a little less than two years ago.

Looking forward to opening it in August of 26.

It's going to be a 712 center.

I think a few things.

What does that mean?

So it's going to serve students from seventh grade through 12th grade.

When we open, we're anticipating a full class of seventh through 10th grade and then offering select programing for our 11th and 12th graders so they can have access to some of the opportunities that will be presented there.

But due to, their stage being, midway through high school.

We felt it was best to offer select programs since they wouldn't be in a position in most cases, to try to complete, a pathway.

There will be five academies, innovative academies with 18 additional pathways.

So that's an exciting, point for us.

I will say there's innovation centers all over the country, and we've been to dozens.

We really wanted to see, the great things that were happening out there.

Some of the nuances that some of these innovative innovation centers were, providing and so forth.

And, what really makes this unique is the leadership piece.

Leadership will be a foundational aspect of the center itself.

And so we'll be looking for students that truly want to be immersed in leadership.

Now, this occurs in all of our schools.

We're we're very proud of the focus, that our students and our staff, put on leadership, knowing that if we can develop proficient, effective leaders, we truly feel that then they'll have all the skills necessary to be successful.

And that's what we want for all of our students.

I know that's what every mom and dad, guardian wants.

And so we want the same thing.

But I think the leadership and then the partnerships with our business and industry leaders, they've been at the table from the very beginning.

Our bowling green area chamber of commerce.

We don't have enough time for me to share.

Really?

How instrumental?

They have been in, in this project.

And we made it clear from the beginning, Renee, it's a community school.

And so it's something that we want, to provide a benefit for our greater community.

How many kids would be served?

So academic year.

So right now we're looking at, approximately 1000 students.

It it has been designed to to go up to 1500, students and then a possible expansion if necessary.

Which I think as this district and community continues to grow.

That'll certainly be, something for, for down the road, but we feel like the, the approach that we're taking here of easing in the seventh through 10th grade as full time students, will help position us to, to be in a great spot in two years where we'll have full classes at each grade level.

We are several months out, maybe, fewer than several months out from a budgetary session in Frankfort, where state lawmakers will craft another biennial budget.

And we know that all kinds of things can surface during that time in those discussions.

Just what's on your wish list?

Do you frequent Frankfort often?

So what are you going to make a plea for?

Well, first, I want to acknowledge that we're very pleased with the fact that the last legislative session did, provide us, additional resources.

And so we're very thankful.

I still believe we have a long way to go.

Going back to being able to attract, hire and retain the best people.

We know that compensation will always be, a key piece to that.

And so we're going to continue to, to champion that.

We know, again, if we have the right people who are working with our kids, the success follows these programs, other resources that yes, are necessary.

We implement them.

But at the end of the day, our quality is going to continue to rest on the backs of our people.

And so we want the very best, not just to certified educators.

Almost half of our employees are non certified.

Our bus drivers play a tremendous role in ensuring the safety of our students to and from school, our food service.

We're the largest food service industry in our region, largest transportation industry in our region.

And so we need highly capable people who are looking after and taking care of our kids.

Yeah.

Worried about any threats?

Whether it's not as much funding as you think our hope for in the session or just some concern about the tone, perhaps from Washington being more pervasive in terms of how Frankfort legislators operate.

Without a doubt, there's concern about some of the the rhetoric that we hear, you know, outside of Kentucky.

And what impact will that have on our Commonwealth?

And for me, it really comes back to our Commonwealth is unique and our industry is unique.

I've always shared that we need to identify additional sources of revenue, because we know that it's expensive to educate kids.

It just is.

And, that will always be at the forefront and will encourage our lawmakers because everybody's going to have ass and we get that.

But we'll we'll always lean back with when it comes to what our constituents need.

It's quality public school education, quality health care.

Right.

And those two are both are struggling.

And, we need to make sure that we're, putting the resources there so we can attract the type of people who can take care of us.

Or.

Superintendent Clayton, it's always a pleasure to speak with you.

And good luck this school year.

Thank you.

It's my pleasure.