School board chooses Brian Yearwood as new JCPS superintendent

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Kentucky lawmaker congratulated Brian Yearwood as the newest superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools a day after the school board said it voted to appoint one of the two finalists.

Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, said Friday on Facebook that he already reached out to Yearwood and "offered friendship and support."

JCPS confirmed just before 6 p.m. Friday that the Jefferson County School Board offered Yearwood a contract and is negotiating a contract with him.

"Through the interview process, Dr. Yearwood impressed us with his obvious commitment to students," Corrie Shull, chair of the board, said in a written statement. "His experience and successes include his tenure as superintendent of Columbia Public Schools in Missouri where under his leadership, the district achieved milestones, including a 16-point increase in its state Annual Performance Report (APR) score, reaching an impressive 86.5 percent."

Earlier this month, the board announced Yearwood and Ben Shuldiner as the top two candidates to replace outgoing Superintendent Marty Pollio, who is leaving July 1 to become president of Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana.

JCPS said Thursday night it voted to approve one of the finalists but wanted to wait until contract negotiations were finished before announcing the new superintendent. On Friday, Shull the board will vote to approve a contract with Yearwood if one is agreed upon.

"We look forward to welcoming Dr. Yearwood to Louisville and working together to continue advancing our commitment to academic excellence and student success," Shull said. "Yearwood's experience and vision bring fresh energy to our district, and we look forward to collaborating closely to build on our strengths, address challenges, and ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive."

Board member Taylor Everett said Friday the vote was "very close" and went back and forth.

"We picked someone, and the reason we aren't naming them is because we offered a contract and they don't have to accept it," Everett said.

Yearwood served as superintendent of Columbia Public Schools in Missouri from 2021 until the end of 2024. District leaders there said he helped improve student performance, however, his departure in December raised questions. A copy of his separation agreement shows Yearwood received more than $667,000 in a contract buyout. He cited retirement, but neither he nor the district has commented further due to a confidentiality clause in the agreement.

"The district made the separation agreement public in November following a unanimous vote by the Board of Education," said Michelle Baumstark, chiefs communications officer for Columbia Public Schools. "It was a mutually agreed separation.

"Dr. Yearwood indicated he would be retiring from CPS and provided attorneys that language. Many retire from public education and go on to do other things following their retirement. The Missouri public education retirement system also allows you to go on to other states and continue to work in public education."

Nemes, who's led the charge in Frankfort to appoint of special task force investigate JCPS and even hinted at splitting the district up to solve its "epic failure," said he's supporting and praying for Yearwood.

"There are 95,000 kids in JCPS and they need a strong public school system," he wrote on Facebook. "Right now the schools are terribly underperforming academically and concerning safety for our students and teachers. We will have a lot of questions and support is not blind, but, for the sake of our kids, my fervent hope is that our new superintendent leads us to improve JCPS."

The public had the opportunity to ask Yearwood some questions at a public forum this week, and the district's budget deficit is a big concern.

"This threatens to undercut the progress of a district if it's not urgently addressed. That has to be priority one," Yearwood said at the forum.

Yearwood was also scheduled to appear as one of three finalists for the superintendent position in the Christina School District in Wilmington, Delaware, but that district has chosen a new superintendent.

Everett said the next superintendent will need the community's support and to trust the board will hold the person accountable.

"We have to rally around him and show them our support," he said. "Now, if it's not working we'll call them on it."