Teacher, principal and business owner chosen for JCPS Task Force to examine district

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Fern Creek High School principal and an Iroquois High School teacher are two of the members chosen for the JCPS Task Force.

Kentucky legislative leaders in Frankfort released the names of five citizen members on Thursday. The task force will gather testimony from parents and policy experts and researching how similar districts in other states handled issues.

The group will study the JCPS administration and recommend possible reforms ahead of the 2025 legislative session.

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 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 Sen. Michael J. Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, will lead the group as co-chairs.

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. Rep. Fleming is also a member of the task force.

Citizen members were chosen through a public application process announced in June.

JCPS members Nicolas and Nichols denied requests for interviews or comment at this time.

JCPS released a statement about the makeup of the task force:

We are thankful a JCPS principal and teacher have been appointed to this task force as they know first-hand the important work taking place throughout the District.

It is crucial the task force is focused on what is best for all JCPS students. We expect the task force will approach this without any political agenda and their recommendations will be driven solely by the goal of building upon the work the District is already doing to improve educational outcomes and opportunities for all students.

While we are happy to travel to Frankfort on Monday, we hope the task force chair will accept our invitation to have meetings at any JCPS school(s) they wish to visit. Task force members should see for themselves the great teaching, learning, and support for families happening in every JCPS school.

All members of the task force will have voting privileges, and the group will have its first meeting at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 15. Superintendent Marty Pollio is scheduled to give the first presentation overviewing the district.

Co-chair Sen. Nemes said while splitting up the district has been broached as a possible outcome in the past that is not the sole intent of the task force.

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