LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two months after Jefferson County Public Schools recommended the closure of two schools and relocation of multiple others, a final budget proposal will be presented to the county school board next week with several key changes to that plan.
In a revised draft proposal released Wednesday by JCPS, Liberty High School would relocate to the Gheens Early Childhood Center at Louisville Male High School, rather than closing, and the Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) program would remain in its original building. King Elementary School would still merge with Maupin Elementary School, and Zachary Taylor Elementary School would still close.
The proposal will go to a vote at Tuesday's scheduled meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Education.
In November, JCPS announced recommendations and gave reasons and next steps for each:
- Closing Liberty High School
- "This school was initially created to serve students in the credit recovery process. Today, well-rounded credit recovery resources are implemented across JCPS, making the stand-alone Liberty model no longer necessary."
- "If passed, students will return to their resides schools, with mandated Personal Learning Plans (PLPs) and robust social-emotional support to provide an accelerated path to credit recovery."
- JCPS doesn't know what it will do with Liberty's buildingÂ
- Closing Zachary Taylor Elementary School, citing cost and an enrollment below 50%
- "If passed, students will reapply, ranking choices from elementary schools in the Ballard High zone."
- JCPS leaders said the Zachary Taylor building would be sold if the school is closed.
- Relocating Waller-Williams Environmental to an "existing facility in the Fairdale neighborhood," citing cost and 39% capacity and a cost per student of about $111,000
- "While this is a specialized school and requires additional resources, the average cost per student at JCPS specialized schools is about $62,000.
- If passed, we’ll be moving this school to an existing facility in the Fairdale neighborhood that’s better suited to its size.
- Building would be demolished but land retained
- Consolidating King Elementary School and Maupin Elementary School at Maupin's building
- (King) is at 70% capacity and the average cost per student is more than $10,000 above the JCPS average for elementary schools.
- At the same time, Maupin Elementary has 53% enrollment but a lower cost per student. JCPS recommends merging the two schools at Maupin’s more cost-effective facility.
- Kings building would be soldÂ
- Moving the Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) to the Gheens Early Childhood Center at Louisville Male High School, citing 21% enrollment
- District cites a high cost per student of $103,677
The plan — highlighted by more than $140 million in cuts district-wide — is the district's attempt to address what's projected to be a $188 million shortfall in the 2026-27 budget. Altogether, this new proposal would total about $142 million in cuts as the district aims to balance its budget.Â
On Jan. 20, the school board is expected to review the budget that leaders said is critical to the district's future amid mounting questions about the math behind JCPS' finances. The budget is subject to board approval.
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