JCPS begins search for new superintendent as board accepts Dr. Marty Pollio's retirement

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The job is open, and the search is expected to take months.

The Jefferson County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday evening to accept superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio's retirement.

Now, comes the task of replacing him, and the next leader of JCPS does not have an easy job.

A state task force could recommend extensive changes to the district and if Amendment 2 passes next month, there could be a whole new set of challenges.

“Tonight, we have declared a vacancy in the Office of Superintendent," JCPS Board Chair Corrie Shull said.

Pollio spent 28 years at JCPS, eight as the superintendent. He leaves the state's largest school district with challenges from the inside and out.

“But this is a large school district, and it has a lot of competing demands and they have got to get somebody that is used to dealing with all of those stakeholders,” Laura Moyer, JCPS parent, said.

Some of the "stakeholders" that invited themselves to the table are Kentucky lawmakers, who formed the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force, tasked with reviewing the district top to bottom.

The fear among many JCPS parents, teachers and administrators is the task force will recommend breaking up the district, although they have said that is not the goal. So far, the task force has not issued any recommendations.

Moyer stood outside of the Van Hoose Education Center Tuesday talking to other parents. Her conversations centered around adding access to world languages to more students.

"I think we want a superintendent that is a strong advocate of public education, and in this political climate, that is really important," Moyer said. "We would like to see a superintendent who prioritizes collaborative decision making with families, with teachers, the teachers feel supported and heard and the families feel supported and heard."

The board chairman said there will be a nationwide search while also looking within the district for the new superintendent. The board is also exploring the possibility of hiring a firm to lead the search.

The JCPS superintendent job will be posted on the district website by February. If the board selects a search firm, they are expecting to have vetted candidates for review by April. In May, the board hopes to start interviewing candidates.

“First and foremost, we need somebody who can be an advocate for JCPS,” said Moyer.

The board hopes to make an offer to a candidate in June and have the new superintendent in place by July 1, 2025. The board is prepared to appoint an interim superintendent if a candidate has not been selected by the July deadline.

If you want your voice heard, the board plans to hold listening sessions and issue surveys in November.

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