LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- State lawmakers considering if Jefferson County Public Schools should be split up heard testimony about how Kentucky's largest school district operates on Monday.
The state's Efficient and Effective School Governance Task Force has been meeting for months in an effort to gain a full picture of the challenges facing JCPS.
Kentucky Department of Education presented its previous audits and discussed student behavior and discipline data. Lawmakers also heard about the findings of a third-party bus audit related to the failure of the start of the 2023-24 school year.
One JCPS principal on the taskforce said the busing issues are mostly resolved.
"I could never defend what happened in 2023 but it is a profoundly different situation. And I just wanted everyone to know that," said Rebecca Nicolas, principal of Fern Creek High School.
Another third party organization also presented how school districts of a similar size to JCPS run their districts and how school boards and superintendents interact. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18.
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.
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."
The task force is 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 Nemes leading the group as co-chairs.
Related stories:
- State task force hears from JCPS teachers union on bus staffing, crisis management strategies
- State task force reviewing JCPS does not intend to recommend splitting up district
- JCPS leaders address test scores, curriculum before state task force examining district
- JCPS Task Force meets for first time, Superintendent Pollio presents to panel
- State JCPS task force taking applications, here's how to apply
- Kentucky General Assembly passes resolution that would create task force to 'monitor' JCPS
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