LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky lawmakers filed a bill on Monday that will look into splitting up Jefferson County Public Schools.

The bill was introduced and has support from the state's Republican lawmakers. 

"We can't sit idle. Each day goes by we're basically getting further and further behind the eight ball," said Rep. Ken Fleming, R-District 48. "I think there's a sense of urgency that we need to get this going sooner, much sooner rather than later."

The bill would create the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force and is targeted at school districts with enrollment greater than 75,000 students, which only qualifies JCPS in the state of Kentucky.

The task force, according to the bill, would "assess the need for additional school districts within a county with a county school district with enrollment greater than 75,000."

The task force, according to the bill, would "assess the need for additional school districts within a county with a county school district with enrollment greater than 75,000."

The task force would assess a number of items, including: previous audits or performance plans, current district governance and administration models, testimony from county stakeholders, and potential impacts on funding and other items if district is split.

"Every single parent I talk to has frustrations and wants something to be done now, but you can't make a change like this without it being done thoughtfully and it can't be done thoughtfully if you're going to rush into hastily," said Rep. Jason Nemes, R-District 33.

In November, lawmakers confirmed they were planning to create a task force to study JCPS and assess splitting the district up. 

For JCPS parent Pinkie Ransom, she's in favor of a smaller district, hoping a more compact district would be more responsive to parents, teachers and students.

"If it is going to provide more teachers and assistance, more attention to these children then maybe they need to take it into consideration at this point, it is terrible our kids ain't getting home until almost 8-9 o'clock sometimes," Ransom said. 

For another JCPS parent, if a smaller district means listening to parents more, she's all for it.

“It's just too many changes and not necessarily giving parents the options,” said LaToya Halo, JCPS parent.

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."

As the bill is currently drafted, the task force would include:

  • Two members of the House of Representatives apportioned by the Speaker of the House
  • Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate
  • One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of the House
  • One member of the Senate to be appointed by the Minority Floor leader of the Senate
  • State Auditor or a designee
  • City's Mayor or designee
  • LRC appointed members: 
    • Two county taxpayers not affiliated with the district
    • Two members with experience in finance, management, and operations of large businesses that operate in Kentucky 
    • One teacher employed by district with five years experience

In a statement Monday evening, a spokesperson for JCPS said the district is "fine with an objective unbiased study of JCPS and how we might better serve students."

"We have been repeatedly studied, audited, and evaluated since Dr. (Marty) Pollio took office. However, this task force is obviously stacked in a way to come to a pre-ordained conclusion, that is, to split up JCPS. Dr. Pollio, and anyone who truly understands education governance, is excluded from the task force, and that says it all," the statement continued.

Many parents are concerned with getting their kids to and from school safely.

The district also provided a list of audits and reviews that have been conducted since Pollio became superintendent. In 2017, the Kentucky Department of Education conducted an initial management audit. In 2018, the district had two reviews: Council of the Great City Schools Organizational Review of Central Office and KDE's Consolidated Monitoring Report. In 2019, the district underwent an AdvancED Performance Accreditation and Engagement Review. In 2020, the KDE conducted a final management audit, and in 2023, KDE conducted a district diagnostic review.

State Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, is the leader of the Democrats in the Senate. He said Monday was the first he had heard of the resolution, and worried that the outcome is already known: that the district will split up.

"I'm not afraid of questions being asked," Neal said. "I'm just wondering how and who is going to be at the table when they decide how they're gonna do this."

This story will be updated.

Related Stories: 

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.