Education

Murray State University President Dr. Randy Dunn is one of three finalists for the Florida Education Commissioner position. Department of Education spokesperson Kassandra Elekes says Dunn submitted his application last Friday and interviews for the position on December 11th.

Hopkinsville Community College made the list of fastest growing community colleges. The magazine Community College Week reports HCC grew 15.4 percent between 2010 and 2011, making it the 5th fastest growing school in its size category.

Students in some Tennessee public schools will add at least 300 learning hours in a pilot program making the school day a little longer. WPSD reports five states including Tennessee will participate in the three-year pilot program affecting almost 20,000 students in 40 schools. Those involved with see their day get longer, their school year extended, or both.

The Hopkins County School Board plans to tear down its new Career and Technology Center and start again at a new site because of compounding foundation problems. Work on the tech center stopped last year after officials discovered the foundation was sinking. The site is on top on of a reclaimed strip mine. Previously, the school district hoped mircopiles would stabilize the building.

A school voucher task force has submitted its recommendations to Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. Haslam appointed the nine-member task force to study how to start a school voucher program a year ago. The group includes lawmakers and representatives from both private and public schools.