Brian Yearwood

Brian Yearwood at JCPS 2026 end-of-year press conference. (WDRB Photo)

Story Highlights

  • JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood called the 2025-26 school year "historic" as students head into summer break.
  • The district approved more than $115 million in cuts to address a projected $188 million budget deficit.
  • JCPS expects staffing changes tied to central office restructuring to become clearer in July.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As Jefferson County Public Schools students head into summer break, Superintendent Brian Yearwood said the district is ending what he called a "historic" school year marked by major financial challenges and significant budget cuts.

Yearwood reflected on the year Friday during a news conference, where multiple district leaders highlighted both the work of JCPS employees and the difficult financial decisions made in recent months.

The district educated nearly 94,000 students this year and employed roughly 18,000 people, including teachers, bus drivers, custodians, instructional aides, principals and central office staff.

But much of the public conversation surrounding JCPS this year centered on the district's projected $188 million budget deficit and the cuts required to address it.

In September, the district said it planned to cut $132 million. It later drafted $142 million in reductions. However, the approved budget shows the district cut recurring expenses by just over $115 million from fiscal year 2026 into fiscal year 2027.

JCPS projects a budget of nearly $1.8 billion next year.

"The reality was serious, and it required serious action," Yearwood said during the conference. "Eight months ago, we sounded the alarm. Then we went to work."

One key part of that effort involved staffing. Earlier this year, JCPS approved a reorganization plan that eliminated and restructured hundreds of central office roles as the district worked to address the deficit. The approved budget includes nearly $28 million in cuts tied to central office and centrally managed positions. 

Yearwood said some employees who previously worked in schools before moving into administrative positions could return to school-based roles as part of the restructuring. He said the district aimed to protect classroom instruction while making reductions elsewhere.

"Every year there's change with our staffing and our plan for teachers is to make sure that they remain stable because we protected that classroom experience, which means that we stabilized our teaching force," Yearwood said.

When the board approved the budget last week, interim CFO Dr. Tom Aberli said fully eliminating the deficit immediately would have caused more disruption for students. He said the district expects future revenues to gradually reduce the deficit over time and said JCPS still has a positive five-year forecast.

Projections show the district will continue carrying a deficit next school year of about $82 million in the working budget and is not expected to reach a balanced budget until 2031.

Yearwood said regardless, the district remains focused on moving forward.

"I will guarantee you this, that we will continue on the pathway to providing the best educational experience for children in JCPS," he said. "That is my guarantee."

Yearwood said JCPS expects to have a clearer picture of staffing changes in July.

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