On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the JCPS Board of Education members voted on the job status of mental health practitioners across JCPS schools and the closure of two elementary schools.
Board Chair Corrie Shull began the meeting with a recognition of Martin Luther King Day and a moment of silence.
Recognitions
JCPS Chief of Communications and Community Relations Carolyn Callahan presented recognitions.
The Board recognized Hui Coach for her nomination of the Honored National Teacher Award.
Two members of the Exceptional Child Education department were honored for their awards at the Kentucky Association for Applied Behavior Analysis (KYABA) Conference.
The Board then recognized eight JCPS Middle and High schools for earning Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Recognitions from the Kentucky Board of Education. Noe, Grace James, Kammerer, Mary Ryan, Home of the Innocents and Central earned bronze level. Brooklawn earned silver level. Echo Trail earned gold level.
The Academy at Shawnee was honored for their recognitions at the Good Business Summit in November of 2025.
Central High School’s Flag Football team was recognized for competing in the State Semifinals. The Yellowjackets went into the post season 6-0. Atherton High School’s Football team also won its first Regional Championship and was recognized for their accomplishment.
Additionally, the Men of Quality Mentoring Program was recognized for 30 years of service. Finally, the Board of Education was honored in observance of National School Board Recognition Month.
Election of Chair and Vice Chairpersons
Shull was re-elected as Chairperson and James Craig was re-elected as Vice Chairperson for the 2026-27 term.
Mental Health Practitioners and AICs
After the superintendent report, the board decided to remove the motion to cut mental health practitioners (MHP) from the 2026-27 budget. Instead, the academic instructional coach positions (AIC) will be cut in their place. Principals of each school can opt for purchasing AICs based on school needs.
Persons Addressing the Board
Many people addressed the board on concerns of MHPs being cut from the budget. Most of them thanked the board for their revised plan to keep funding for MHPs.
Five principals addressed the board about their lack of autonomy in deciding budget cuts. They also had concerns about cutting security and equity funds and what effects that could entail for the functionality of their schools.
“As principals, we are the leaders most equipped to speak to the needs of our students and staff, and we were not afforded a voice in this budget proposal until after it was written,” said the Principal of Southern High School Sariena Samson.
Parents had a variety of concerns about the proposed budget and how it will disproportionately affect certain schools. Advocates for the J. Graham Brown School mentioned that 30% of their teaching staff will be cut.
Courtney Green, a fifth grade teacher at Zachary Taylor Elementary, advocated against the closing of the school.
“This is especially hard to cope with when tonight’s agenda lists approximately 24 million dollars in athletic field renovations. We are closing two schools while athletic fields get renovated,” Green said.
Budget Reductions
Superintendent Brian Yearwood presented information regarding budget reductions and central office reorganization. The cuts identified would total to $142 million with a $10 million contingency.
Of these cuts, $44 million would come from central office reorganization. Safety Administration will be cut as School Resource Officers staff every middle and high school. The plan also includes a shift to centralized bookkeeping to further efficiency amongst elementary school position cuts.
Yearwood included a detailed transition plan for students of King and Zachary Taylor Elementary School pending school closure. King Elementary students have options to attend magnet schools, close to home schools or far away schools. Zachary Taylor Elementary students can attend magnet schools or schools in the Ballard Elementary Zone. JCPS will implement a comprehensive monitoring system to identify affected students and provide support.
School Closures
In the discussion prior to voting, board member Gail Logan-Strange expressed her concerns for closing King Elementary.
“When you talk about closing King Elementary, not only is there a food desert in the area, now we’re getting ready to create a school desert because there will be no elementary school in the Shawnee area,” Logan-Strange said.
With a 4-2 vote, the Board decided to close King Elementary and Zachary Taylor Elementary and relocate Liberty High school.
