Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball

Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball testifies before the Efficient & Effective School District Governance Task Force. (Photo courtesy of @KYAuditor on X)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball told lawmakers Monday that her office is preparing to conduct a "massive" audit of Jefferson County Public Schools.

Ball spoke in Frankfort before the Efficient & Effective School District Governance Task Force, updating the committee on what she said is already an "ongoing" audit.

Auditor Allison Ball called the audit a massive undertaking.

She said it will ultimately include a look at JCPS' finances, safety, cybersecurity, bus safety, violence in schools, student discipline, mental health resources, multi-lingual assistance and the district's practices around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

"What we're working on right now is a broad audit," Ball said. "It includes financial and is deeper than what you typically have with the SCSDA audit, but it's much more than that."

Ball testified in front of the task force that's taking its own broad look at JCPS. The task force is a direct result of House Concurrent Resolution 81, which the Kentucky General Assembly adopted during the 2024 legislative session. Sponsored by Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, the measure called for a working group to review the administrative functions and learning outcomes of school districts that have more than 75,000 students, which only applies to JCPS. 

The focus on Louisville's public school system stems from its difficult start to the 2023-24 school year, and the failed rollout of a new busing system that led to six days of school being canceled. A group of Kentucky House Republicans sent an open letter to JCPS students, parents and teachers after the first day of school, calling the massive bus issues an "epic failure," and said the district "failed in its most fundamental obligation, which is to keep our kids safe."

It's made up of 13 members, with several legislators, including House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers. Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, and Sen. Mike Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, leading the group as co-chairs. Citizen members were chosen through a public application process announced in June. Fern Creek High School Principal Rebecca Nicolas and Iroquois teacher and treasurer for Jefferson County Teachers Association George Nichols are on the task force.

"We are here only to make Jefferson County Public Schools the best they can be," Nemes said Monday. "If you think are failing, we want to make them successful. If you think they're great, we want to make them the greatest. "

The fear among some in Louisville is that the task force will recommend will suggest the district — Kentucky's largest — be split up. Nemes said it's something "that may be recommended or not, but that is not the intent of the task force."

Ball said the last time JCPS was subject to an audit this thorough was in 2014 at the request of the Jefferson County Board of Education and superintendent at the time. More than 200 recommendations came out of that audit, Ball said, including a push to strengthen management and oversight in the district.

"I understand there were actions taken that addressed some of those, but the question is where are we now, 10 years later," she said. "Have they gone back to some of the old practices? Are there new things that need to be addressed? And that's what this audit is meant to identify."

Chuck Truesdell, executive administrator for government and community relations, said then-Auditor Mike Harmon reached out to JCPS in 2023 to discuss the audit that is now underway. He said they've now been in discussions with Ball and her office, and a Dec. 2 meeting is planned to begin the process. In a written statement this week, JCPS said the district looks forward to sitting down with Ball and her team.

The task force's original goal was to bring legislation recommendations before the 2025 session. At a meeting earlier this month in Louisville, Nemes said it may need more time.

The results of the audit are expected to be released July 1, 2026.

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