JCPS principals say they were excluded from budget cut process, warn classroom teachers will lose jobs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools principals say they were shut out of key budget decisions that could lead to classroom teacher losses, concerns they raised publicly during hours of emotional testimony at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.

At the meeting Tuesday, principals filled the room, one after another asking the board to pause the budget cuts process. Several said they had been promised a seat at the table during budget discussions — a promise they say was broken.

"We should have been consulted. We were told that we would be," said Sariena Sampson, executive principal at Southern High School.

Courtney Grace, principal of Hazelwood Elementary, told the board no such consultation took place.

"No meeting occurred in December, and our January meeting was canceled," Grace said.

When asked about those concerns, Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood said improving communication with principals is a goal moving forward.

"The seat at the table is something we’re going to work toward," Yearwood said. "We are going to improve our principal interactions."

Yearwood has repeatedly said classroom teachers would not be cut as part of the district’s proposed $142 million in reductions. Principals told the board they believe that assurance is inaccurate, arguing that cuts to school funding streams will force them to eliminate teaching positions.

Nayasha Owens Patterson, principal of Western Middle School for the Arts, warned that staffing losses could be widespread.

"Every middle school principal is reporting potential losses of one to four teachers at most schools, five to seven teachers at some schools," Owens Patterson said. "One school will lose nearly 30% of their middle school staff."

When asked whether he still believes the proposed changes would not negatively impact students, despite principals’ warnings, Yearwood said the district is monitoring conditions closely.

"We are paying very close attention to whether our principals and students are thriving," he said.

During public comment, one principal urged board members to reject the proposal altogether.

"We stand before you asking you to vote no on a budget that excludes feedback and poses a grave threat to student services," one principal said.

Despite the objections, the board ultimately voted to receive the draft budget. The vote does not finalize the cuts but establishes the framework for how the district would operate moving forward.

Formal adoption of the budget is scheduled for May.

When asked after the meeting whether he had any regrets about how the process was handled, Yearwood said he did not.