The JCPS Board of Education met on May 5 at the VanHoose Education Center. The meeting started with a closed executive session between Superintendent Brian Yearwood and board members.
Upon entering the public meeting room, the board discussed changes to roles within the committee due to Senate Bill 4. Senate Bill 4 would transition the board into five elected board positions and two appointed board members that would be selected by the state treasurer. Governor Andy Beshear vetoed the bill, but Kentucky lawmakers recently overturned the veto.
To best conform with the bill, the current board members were moved into the drafted districts until November when they’re reelected. Some positions remained the same, such as Board Members James Craig (District 3) and Trevin Bass (District 4). However, Board Members Gail Logan Strange, Tricia Lister and Corrie Shull were reassigned to District 5, District 1 and District 2. Board Members Taylor Everett and Linda Duncan were not given temporary positions, but will remain on the board until November’s elections.
The session then moved into district recognition. Yearwood first recognized progress made in JCPS transportation.
”I am proud to share that we have reached a 78% completion rate for transportation verification. While that may sound like a simple operational metric, it represents something much bigger. It represents thousands of careful decisions, family contacts, route reviews, schedule adjustments and coordinated efforts that help ensure our students arrive safely and successfully on the very first day of school next year,” Yearwood said.
Yearwood also highlighted the high numbers of graduating seniors this school year. There are an estimated 6,500 students graduating from JCPS high schools this year. Yearwood also emphasized how that number represents the effort put in by JCPS educators and other staff within the school building.
Shull along with Marco Munoz, the Leader of the Accountability, Research and Systems Improvement Department, then presented JCPS’ Comprehensive School Survey (CSS) results. The data stated an overall decrease in satisfaction with JCPS throughout students, JCPS staff and parents. However, surveyors also stated an increase in satisfaction in personal schooling, except for students who saw a decrease from 94% to 79%.
”We have had all kinds of situations that we have been dealing [with] this school year, budget reductions, aging facilities, [and] central office reorganization, but one thing is clear from this data. We are fulfilling the promise of protecting the student experience,” Munoz said.
The CSS assessed three key data sets, safety and belonging, academic excellence and growth and care and support. Throughout the results, there is an overall growth in all areas.
Before opening the floor to the public, Chief Equity Officer John Marshall reintroduced the racial equity policy to the board. This was meant to ensure the continuation of racial equity throughout the district by presenting recent successes and positive impacts.
After opening the floor to the public, the board moved onto the tentative budget for the 2026-27 school year. A presentation with basic data about the budget was displayed, showcasing about $115 million in budget reductions. The board then passed it in unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned shortly after.
The next board meeting is on June 12 at the VanHoose Education Center.
