Parents plead to keep King Elementary open as JCPS faces financial crisis

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Dozens of parents, teachers and students marched through the streets of west Louisville Wednesday evening, chanting and holding signs in support of Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School.

About 75 to 100 people walked nearly a quarter mile from King Elementary to the old Shawnee High School, where Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood held a community forum to discuss the district’s growing financial crisis.

“In November of 2026, JCPS will have to sell off its investments just to make payroll,” Yearwood told the crowd, explaining that the district is facing $188 million in debt and difficult decisions — including the possible closing or consolidation of schools.

Yearwood said he learned about the district’s financial troubles on his second day on the job and is now holding a series of meetings to explain the situation and listen to community concerns.

Inside the Shawnee auditorium, the mood was emotional and loud — with parents and teachers making passionate pleas to keep King Elementary open.

Since opening its doors in 1969, King Elementary has hosted numerous programs and partnerships, including Fund for the Arts, the Louisville Ballet, and Boys & Girls Club initiatives. Teachers and community members say the school is much more than a building — it’s a safe haven for students who need support.

“On Monday, I held a student in the hallway while he cried so hard my pants and shirt were soaked with his tears,” said JCPS teacher Rita Ashley. “His mom is in prison, and even though his world is falling apart, he needed someone to make him feel heard, valued and loved. That’s what I do every day when I walk through the doors at King Elementary.”

While no decisions were made Tuesday night, Yearwood made it clear that JCPS is in a genuine financial crisis and that stabilizing the district will require tough choices.

The Jefferson County Board of Education is expected to vote on possible budget cuts — and perhaps school closures — at its next meeting on Dec. 9.

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