Bill pushing to restructure JCPS leadership passes Kentucky Senate, heads to House

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky lawmakers want to change who is responsible for decision-making within Jefferson County Public Schools.

They say Senate Bill 1, which is working the way through the legislature, would hold the district accountable. But JCPS teachers and leaders say they are firmly against it.

"We're redefining the responsibilities of the board and the superintendent," said State Sen. David P. Givens President Pro Tempore, R-Greensburg.

"This bill says to Kentuckians 'We don't trust you to choose your own school board,'" said Maddie Shepard, president of the Jefferson County Teachers Association.

Lawmakers in Frankfort hope to restructure leadership, specifically within JCPS, through SB 1. It shakes up responsibilities for the superintendent and Jefferson County Board of Education.

"It opens up with 42 different reasons for this district to be treated differently," Givens said.

The bill would give JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood more authority over day-to-day operations. However, Yearwood stands against the bill and stresses the importance of locally elected school boards.

"We're taking the board out of the day-to-day operations (and) giving the board authority to hire the CEO to oversee day-to-day operations," Givens said.

"It strips power away from an elected board and concentrates it with unelected administrators," Shepard said.

A similar bill passed in April 2022. It stripped power from the board of education and gave it to the district superintendent. It also required a two-thirds vote to overrule any action of the superintendent.

The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that version of SB 1 was unconstitutional. However, lawmakers are trying again.

"In essence, the court is not saying we cannot do it," Givens said. "But the court is saying we have to articulate really good, sound reasons."

Supporters argue this proposal prioritizes long-term planning, watches the district's finances closely, tracks academic and operational progress, and evaluates top administrators.

"A piece of legislation that enables the JCPS system to operate more effectively," Givens said.

"Efficiency cannot be the sole measure of success in public education," Shepard said.

Shepard believes this isn't the right solution for JCPS. Instead, she suggests creating a task force to get lawmakers and educators in the same room "to problem define together and to problem solve together."

"For me, it's the continued focus on our students," Yearwood said. "Our students must come first."

Kentucky senators already passed this bill. But it still has a few hurdles to overcome in the House before it can become law.

This is separate from Senate Bill 4, another bill making it's way through the statehouse that hopes to would make changes to JCPS's school board. Under SB4, five members would be elected, while two more would be chosen by the state's treasurer. The bill will return to the Senate for final approval before going to Gov. Andy Beshear's desk.