On Tuesday, April 21, the JCPS Board of Education met at the VanHoose Education Center to discuss the ongoing budget deficit.
The discussion included sharing what the central office looks like, addressing the budget by developing a comprehensive strategic plan for following years and developing an in-depth financial forecasting model.
The meeting started with recognitions.
Both Norton Commons and Stopher Elementary Schools were named scholastic state team champions by the Kentucky Chess Association. Valley High School Chess Team was also recognized for winning the US Chess National High School Championship in the under 800 division.
Then, Robin Walker was recognized for her election to serve as SHAPE America president.
Following Walker’s recognition, Pleasure Ridge Park High School (PRP) student Khilah Thruston was recognized for earning the first college flag football scholarship offer in PRP history.
In addition, Julia Keeney and Rylan Cole gained recognition for winning an International Debate Tournament in Chengdu, China.
Other recognitions included Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary School on their district leadership in social-emotional learning, Miyakayla Thomas, a JCPS bus driver, and Jayden Jones, a bus monitor for going above and beyond and planning a celebration after a student success, and finally the recognition of national library week from April 19 to 25.
Following recognition, JCPS superintendent Brian Yearwood provided his superintendent’s report.
Within the report, Yearwood addresses the three critical items on the meeting’s agenda: development of a comprehensive strategic plan for the following years, engagement of a search to recruit a Chief Financial Officer and development of a rigorous financial forecasting model.
Yearwood stressed the importance of rebuilding community and trust, highlighting that the budget crisis is years in the making and they cannot cut their way to stability.
“Despite the challenges we face this year, fiscal, organizational and external, our schools have continued to show up. Our teachers are teaching. Our leaders are leading. I know students are learning. That is the work we must protect in these final weeks,” Yearwood said.
After Yearwood’s report, Tom Aberli provided the board with an update regarding the development of the Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27. Per KRS 160.470 and JCPS policy 04.1, the Tentative Budget must be submitted to the board during the May 12 board meeting.
Aberli introduced the three phases of development for the budget cycle. The first is the draft budget, due Jan. 31 of the previous school year. The tentative budget is then due by May 30. Finally, the final working budget is due Sept. 30.
The presentation detailed the process that went into making the draft budget for the 2026-27 school year. Aberli explained that the tentative budget includes changes from January to May including the now completed state biennial budget, decisions based on allocations of new year flexible funds and changes made by the board and superintendent.
The three aspects that measure the financial status of a school district are, Aberli explained, fund balance, cash and investments, and deficit between revenues and expenses at working budget. Aberli highlighted the status of each of these items.
Aberli concluded with the focus of the JCPS Tentative Budget for 2026-27, which includes changes made since the draft budget such as Central Office positions, adjustments due to rising costs of utilities and fuel. Aberli emphasized a range of low-to-high estimates for fund balance, cash and deficit and contingency.
Katy Deferrari then provided an overview of the Central Office to the board.
Deferrari emphasized that the Central Office consists of more than simply Academic Intervention Coordinators (AIC) and bookkeepers.
Approximately 71.5% of the 4552 members of the Central Office. Removing Operations and JCPS Police Department, there are 1169 Central Office staff. 41.8% of these staff members are Direct Service providers.
The presentation discussed salaries and compared these salaries to those of peer districts, emphasizing many Central Office workers were directly working in schools.
The consent calendar was passed by the board with the exception of BID ID 3173 under consent item X.I. which failed with a motion from board member Linda Duncan and a second from Trevin Bass. The item entailed negotiation for a strategic plan development consultant.
Following consent calendar approval, the public began addressing the board.
Public addresses surrounded budget cuts and how JCPS has handled transparency with the fiscal state of the district.
“I thought I would talk about some of the thoroughbreds, or I like to call them unicorns of JCPS. I didn’t coordinate it with Dr. Ferrari’s presentation, but the teachers I’m going to talk about tonight happened to occupy some of the student facing positions at the district level,” said Maddie Shepard, president of the Jefferson County Teachers Association.
Shepard emphasized the importance of these positions, using distinct anecdotes to make these Direct Service providers relatable and highlight the fact that they’re not detached from the schools.
The following board meeting will be on May 12 at the VanHoose Education Center.
