‘What are the kids going to do?' | JCPS budget plan includes $3M cut to school safety administrators | Education

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools is proposing more than $142 million in budget cuts, including more than $3 million that would reduce the district’s school safety administrator program — a move some staff members warn could affect student safety inside schools.

The proposed cuts come as JCPS works to address a significant budget shortfall. District leaders say the plan prioritizes reductions in central office roles, but safety administrators — staff members dedicated solely to school safety — are among the positions impacted.

JCPS plans to cut more than $3 million from its safety administrator program. A current safety administrator told WDRB the cuts would have a direct impact on students.

"I don’t think there’s any cost or number amount that you can put on school or staff or building safety," said Dr. Ashley Hilger, who has worked as a safety administrator for four years. "It’s not worth what it could potentially cost within the buildings."

Safety administrators are unarmed, not in uniform and focus on building relationships with students. They manage tasks like managing weapons detection systems. According to district documents their responsibilities include coordinating safety drills, handling threats, working with law enforcement on investigations, and overseeing security for after-school events.

The position was created in 2022. A district report from that year shows safety administrators were assigned to every middle and high school, with some campuses staffed with two.

JCPS would not say how many safety administrators could lose their jobs if the plan is approved. However, the proposed $3 million reduction represents more than half of the program’s funding. As of May 2025, the district employed more than 70 safety administrators.

"I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what will I do?’" she said. “The next thing that came after that is, ‘What are the kids going to do?’"

Hilger says her role is the only one in the building dedicated full-time to student safety.

Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood said the district believes it can maintain safety with fewer safety administrators because JCPS has expanded its police force.

"We will see the same level of care and concern being carried out throughout the district," Yearwood said.

However, Hilger said spreading safety administrators across multiple schools would weaken the program.

"I think putting them over multiple schools would be detrimental to the role itself," she said.

A 2023 study by Vanderbilt University found that 93% of supervisors agreed having a safety administrator benefits students.

Hilger said she believes district leaders want what’s best for students but says there is a misunderstanding about what safety administrators do day-to-day.

"We need it to be tabled," she said. "We need it to be discussed."

The proposed budget cuts are pending approval by the Jefferson County School Board.

Yearwood said JCPS does not plan to have officers patrolling hallways but intends to continue its community-policing approach focused on building relationships with students and overseeing campus safety.

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‘What are the kids going to do?' | JCPS budget plan includes $3M cut to school safety administrators