BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Kentucky Board of Education rejected the firing of Nelson County Schools Superintendent Wes Bradley, saying in a written statement Friday that there wasn't "competent and relevant evidence" supporting at least one of the charges against him. 

And not only did KDE reject the firing but it decided to place Nelson County Schools into a "management improvement program."

"KDE will communicate with the Board and the Superintendent regarding next steps ..." the statement Friday said.

On March 4, after meeting in executive session, the Nelson County School Board of Education voted 4-1 to remove Bradley. In removing Bradley, the board accused him of:

  • Neglect of duty
  • Academic and educational neglect resulting in extremely low academic performance
  • Failure of leadership
  • Failing to act as the professional advisor of the board pursuant to KRS 160 370
  • Engaging in conduct that has created or promoted division and ascension within the district and working relationships have been severely damaged
  • Engaging in conduct that has resulted in the majority of the board losing trust in him

When spring break is over, Bradley will be back in his office at the district.

"I think there’s been some turmoil and been some disconnect, obviously, through the communities," Bernie Ayers, a Nelson County Schools parent, said Friday. "And I hope, I really hope, this brings everybody back together."

Bradley has been with the district since 2011 and became superintendent in 2018 and has been the district's leader amid some controversies, including plans to merge and consolidate schools that have been passed, killed, and re-imagined over the last several years. The board sent the decision to fire Bradley to KDE, which was then tasked with investigating the claims and then either approving or declining the decision to remove Bradley.

"What is clear from the investigation is that there has been a tremendous amount of dysfunction and inability or unwillingness to communicate between the Board and Bradley in the leadership of the district in the last year," KDE said in its statement. "This has contributed to the animosity between the different factions in the Nelson County community. As elected officials, local board members are elected to hear from and represent the interests of all constituents and board meetings should allow opportunities for transparency and public input in a respectful and meaningful manner. Due to the discourse in the district, board meetings have not been productive or inviting."

Nelson County Schools headquarters.jpeg

Nelson County Schools (WDRB file photo)

The move to fire Bradley came a week after the board discussed his performance behind closed doors during five hours of executive session in another special called meeting that ended with no action taken. It was a decision many expected, but many people still weren't in favor of it. Parents, students and employees have shown up to school board meetings over the last several months in support of their superintendent. At the meeting in March during which Bradley was fired, he walked into the room to cheers and applause that lasted for several minutes. The same was done when he left the building.

"I applaud the decision taken by the KDE and look forward to engaging in constructive discussions aimed at finding resolution," Tracy Bowling, an NC board member, said in a written statement Friday. "Given the dedication of our teachers and leaders to the success of our students in NCS, it is essential that we unite with our community and families. While I have confidence in Superintendent Bradley’s leadership, establishing a collaborative partnership demands concerted effort from all stakeholders. I am committed to play my part in shaping a promising future for NCS."

In a statement following Bradley's removal, the principals of Nelson County Schools said they "continue to be united in our advocacy for next generation learning experiences and environments for all students in the Nelson County School district."

The school district has been under scrutiny by parents, teachers, and community members after the board approved a plan to merge Boston Middle School and New Haven Middle School with Old Kentucky Home Middle School. The middle school merger followed a decision to create a proposal to merge Thomas Nelson and Nelson High schools, known as the Connected Campus Plan.

Many community members and parents are against the mergers. Last October, student and teacher protests voicing their frustrations over the Connected Campus Plan closed school for two days. Some school board meetings over the last year have been packed by members of the community voicing their opposition to merge the high schools.

"The Board and Superintendent Bradley have spent significant amounts of time and district resources embroiled in controversy which have resulted in distraction of the Board and the Superintendent from what should be the district’s number one goal – improving the academic performance of schools within the district," KDE said. "This ongoing and lengthy distraction has also contributed to an environment of animosity between different factions in the Nelson County community."

WDRB has not heard back from Superintendent Bradley about the decision, at this time. However, in documents provided by KDE, it included Bradley’s initial response to the board’s vote for removal.

In the 95 page document, he refutes the claims made by the board, and at one point, explains public outrage since January 2023 was not a result of anything he did or did not do. The outrage was a result of what the community saw any personal conflicts and lack of transparency by the board.

Bradley also listed out several ethical concerns for individual board members: David Norman, Amanda Deaton, Diane Berry and Nicole Milburn.

This story will be updated.

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