LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Kentucky lawmakers passed two bills that will dramatically reshape leadership at Jefferson County Public Schools, putting every school board seat on the ballot and shifting more power to the superintendent.

Under Senate Bill 4, all Jefferson County Board of Education seats will be up for election this November — regardless of when members were last elected. The bill also reduces the board from seven members to five, aligning JCPS with every other district in Kentucky.

Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, strongly supported the overhaul.

"Our school board is an absolute disaster," Nemes said. "They don't educate our kids and they don't understand how to financially manage the district, so they need to be moved along because they're incompetent."

He said lawmakers advocated for resizing the board to bring JCPS in line with other districts after a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling determined the district must be treated the same as others statewide.

Nemes also said the change gives voters a chance to reset the board.

"This gives us an opportunity to have elections where we can bring competence to the school board," he said.

Pushback over voter impact and district lines

The bill faced pushback from some lawmakers.

"I see that as nullifying an election and overturning the will of the people and their elected officials," Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said on the Senate floor.

When asked whether the move sends a message that voters' voices don't matter, Nemes pushed back.

"Their vote does matter," he said. "They're gonna elect their replacement."

The bill also redraws board districts for the 2026 election. Nemes said those maps were drawn by two House Democrats and will only be used temporarily, with JCPS expected to redraw its own maps in 2028.

 

Board members split on changes

Reactions from current board members are mixed.

Board member James Craig said a smaller board could help address challenges in recruiting candidates.

"Today, in my opinion, finding candidates who are willing to put in the time, the effort and have the intellectual capacity for the heavy and important work we do is challenging," Craig said.

Craig said he won't run again, though he said that decision was made before the legislation passed.

"I think a fresh perspective at this time in history is probably necessary," he said.

Board Chair Corrie Shull criticized the bill, calling it "an unfortunate and undemocratic action that effectively makes it more difficult to amplify the diverse voices of our community in the decision-making processes that shape the future of Louisville's children."

Board member Linda Duncan said she also won't run again, raising concerns about the impact of larger districts.

"Twenty years is a good jumping off point," she said. "This new model will discourage board members from trying to visit their 40 or so schools, separating board members from seeing the impact the board's decisions have on classrooms."

She also questioned whether the change would actually benefit students.

"I just wish the sponsors could explain how five larger districts serving about 160,000 diverse constituents each will in any way help us improve student learning," she said. "That is obviously not the sponsors' priority."

Taylor Everett said he plans to run again and supports this version of the bill compared to an earlier proposal. 

"I'm happy that the board is still all elected. I would have been fine with keeping it as is, but this is much better than the other bill that was proposing to make it a fully appointed board," Everett said.

Board members Logan Strange, Tricia Lister and Trevin Bass didn't respond.

 

Senate Bill 1 shifts power to superintendent

Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 1, which shifts more authority to the superintendent by requiring a two-thirds vote of the board to override decisions, instead of a simple majority.

Craig said that raises concerns.

"It creates a super empowered superintendent and in my opinion voters in the city of Louisville do not want that," he said.

The change comes as an audit of JCPS found former Superintendent Marty Pollio made some budget decisions unchecked, contributing to the district's financial crisis.

Nemes said the board — not the superintendent — is responsible.

"We don't elect the superintendent, we elect the board," Nemes said. "It's their fault we are in a $188 million hole, not Marty Pollio's. Marty Pollio is an agent of the board."

 

District response and what comes next

JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood didn't say much when asked about the changes Thursday. 

"Regardless of what happens where, that is my No. 1 focus — our kids," Yearwood said.

In a statement, JCPS said, "We appreciate the hard work of all our Board members. We are committed to turning around student achievement, and we cannot afford any distractions from that mission."

It is not clear if the board plans to challenge either bill in court. Nemes said if Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes the legislation, lawmakers plan to override it.

"JCPS has got to step up," Nemes said. "It has to do better."

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