LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — In its first meeting held in Louisville, the state task force reviewing JCPS said it does not have intentions to split up the district.

The state's Efficient and Effective School Governance Task Force is tasked with reviewing JCPS from top to bottom.

On Tuesday, it met at Central High School and allowed for public comment.

The task force asked the public to answer two questions:

  • How would you like to see the district's academic offerings, educational capabilities, and operations improved?
  • How have these factors affected the enrollment decisions for your child?

However, many speakers criticized the questions and said the task force should ask the public how it can help JCPS.

"There seems to be this tendency to want to pick on JCPS and figure out how do we do things that ultimately disrupt education and keep people from equitable access," said Lyndon Pryor, the president of the Louisville Urban League.

Many also pleaded to the task force to not split up JCPS, raising concern that smaller districts would lack resources and schools in the county would become inequitable.

"Our district gets 53% of its revenue from local taxes, but because property values are higher in north and east Jefferson County, those schools in the regions would be funded with more resources. Poorer districts will lack the capacity to generate revenue locally," said a sophomore at Central High School. 

Many speakers asked the task force to consider addressing the issues with transportation, so all students in Jefferson County can ride the bus to school, and increase salaries to address a teacher shortages.

State Senator Mike Nemes (R-Shepherdsville) said splitting up the district is a 'misconception' amongst the public.

"Maybe some of the people running the bill (to create the task force) that is their intention, but if they thought that was what needed to be done, they should have run that bill," Nemes said. "The two co-chairs in the task force that is not our intention. Our total intention is to do what's best for the students of Jefferson County." 

Nemes said it is possible the task force does not make a recommendation before the next legislative session, and extends the work into next year. 

"It's going to be real hard for us to come up with a good report from everything we've heard because there is so much more we want to hear," Nemes said. "We're going to have recommendations, possibly, but mostly a good report, and yes we make ask for more time to do things." 

However, others view the task force as putting JCPS under a microscope, and decisions being made by those outside of Jefferson County.

"The legislature ruled by the super majority that has invited the rest of the state to make policy in Jefferson County, now think about that," said State Sen. Gerald Neal (D-Louisville).

The task force will meet in Louisville for a second time on Sept. 10 at Male High School.

The panel 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. 

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.

Angela Masden-Wilson and Brittany Abdelahad will serve as resident-parent members. Jody Wurtenberger will serve as the business member.

The Task Force has met two other times, where Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio has testified before the committee and answered questions.

In previous meetings, JCPS has provided an overview of the district, makeup of the administration and board of education as well as its budget.

It has also discussed chronic absenteeism in the district, a growing number of multilingual learners, test scores and recent changes in curriculum.

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."

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