LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jefferson County Public Schools said $30 million of its proposed $142 million in budget cuts are pending negotiations with Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA), including a proposal that would eliminate cost-of-living raises for educators.
Under the district’s current plan, teachers would not receive a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for the 2026–27 school year. COLAs are annual raises intended to help salaries keep pace with inflation.
JCTA President Maddie Shepard said no agreement has been reached on teacher pay.
“We have not agreed to a COLA adjustment or a salary adjustment for the '26–’27 year, so none of that is set in stone or been agreed to,” Shepard said.
The union said its members have received COLAs in 11 of the past 15 years, but those increases have only matched inflation three times. As a result, the union estimates teachers’ buying power has dropped by nearly 20% since 2011.
Shepard said she is limited in what she can share publicly while negotiations are ongoing.
“Because we are in active negotiations, I have to adhere to the good-faith agreements we’ve made to be good partners in negotiations and not comment on how that’s going publicly,” she said. “But I will say the commitment I’ve made to members is to have well-paid educational professionals to put in front of Louisville’s kids.”
Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood said the district has not targeted teacher base pay.
“I said we would protect the base pay for teachers. We did,” Yearwood said Wednesday following the presentation of proposed cuts.
In addition to teachers, the union represents Explore coaches — who help students identify career paths — and educators at schools that could close or be consolidated under the district’s broader restructuring plan. Those positions are also among those potentially affected by the cuts.
Shepard said while employees are concerned about job security, many are more focused on the impact on students and schools.
“Of course a person is worried about their livelihood, but most of the feedback we’ve been hearing is concern about kids and concern about schools,” Shepard said.
She added that employees covered by the union’s contract are guaranteed continued employment within Jefferson County Public Schools, though not necessarily in the same role or at the same pay.
“Our bargaining unit will have jobs in JCPS. They may not have the same jobs, but they will have jobs,” Shepard said.
JCPS would not say whether potential job reassignments are included in the projected savings tied to the proposed cuts.
Shepard said the union understands the district must balance its budget but wants that process to protect student services, avoid disproportionate impacts on underserved communities and make every effort to keep educators employed.
“If we can balance the budget and do those three things, then you will have a partner in JCTA,” Shepard said. “If those three things cannot be done, then we might have to take a different position."
She said for the most part, those things are being done.
Previous Coverage:
‘What are the kids going to do?' | JCPS budget plan includes $3M cut to school safety administrators
JCPS tweaks school closure plan ahead of pivotal board vote
Necessary change | JCPS board member explains classroom impact of proposed $142 million in cuts
JCPS plans more than $140 million in new staff, program cuts to close budget gap
Deep dive inside JCPS’ budget crisis: Cuts jumped $90 million in three months
'What happened?' | WDRB presses JCPS superintendent on $188M budget deficit
JCPS board voted Tuesday to pause plan to close, consolidate several schools
JCPS leaders say school closures will save $4 million out of $132 million in needed cuts
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