JCPS outlines what's next for some students after closing 2 schools, 10 early childhood centers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — While school is out for the summer, some Jefferson County Public Schools are shut down for good.

Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and Zachary Taylor Elementary School closed last week to help curb the district's $188 million deficit.

"It's sad," Kristen Kinman said. "It's fun to see the kids walking home from school in the afternoon and even to hear them playing on the playground."

Kinman lives down the street from Zachary Taylor Elementary School. She said it was a "really wonderful convenience" for many families in Louisville's east end.

"Were the decisions hard? Absolutely," Superintendent Brian Yearwood said Friday. "Very hard decisions. No one gets into public education dreaming about budget cuts."

In August, Zachary Taylor students will fan out to 18 different schools. A JCPS spokesperson told WDRB a majority will attend Malcolm B. Chancey, Norton Commons, Dunn and St. Matthews elementary schools.

The building will turn into a swing space for the school district.

"It'll be interesting to see what happens," Kinman said.

However, in Louisville's west end, King Elementary will be sold.

"Honestly, I loved that school," Lela Offutt said. "Like I really did. It should've been more people trying to keep that school open."

Offutt said many of her neighbors don't have cars, and she hates to see the kids lose a school that's in walking distance.

While Offutt's daughter is moving on to middle school, other King Elementary students will spread out to 21 schools. JCPS confirmed to WDRB that more will be attending Maupin, Foster and Coleridge-Taylor Elementary.

Additionally, 10 schools won't have early childhood centers anymore. Those shcools are: Gheens, Jacob, Stonestreet, Blake, Thomas Jefferson, Wilt, Cochrane, Farmer, Hawthorne and Tully.

Instead, those children will likely attend the new $20 million center opening next school year behind Watterson Elementary. In March, JCPS told WDRB t he closures are not related to the district’s budget crisis.

"Change is hard," Yearwood said. "Public education is hard work."

The district approved more than $115 million in cuts to address the unprecedented budget deficit. As Yearwood reflected on his first school year in charge of JCPS, he remains focused on the future.

"Despite every challenge, JCPS continues moving forward," Yearwood said. "And thank you to our parents for trusting us with your children."

The last day to request bus transportation for the start of the school year is June 8. JCPS students will head back to class on Thursday, Aug. 6.