Board Buzz

We offer this recap of our school board meetings as part of our commitment to providing timely updates for students, families, staff, and the community.

The Fayette County Board of Education approved the district's Tentative Budget for 2024-25, which invests 73% of the total General Fund budget into direct services to students. "Budgets are more than mere figures. They reflect our priorities and values," said Superintendent Demetrus Liggins. "This year's budget demonstrates our commitment to our students and the exceptional employees who dedicate themselves to supporting and educating them every day."

Among the highlights:

• 35 days of paid parental leave (a first for FCPS and the most for school districts in the state), employer-paid long-term disability plan, and wellness resources for employees, as recommended by the Fayette County Education Association (FCEA)
• $250 supply allocation for every classroom teacher and new districtwide English Language Arts and Math curriculum
• Step increases in the salary schedules, building off last year's raises
• Highest starting teacher salary in Kentucky

Please refer to our FCPS news release for more details. You can also visit our Budget & Financial Planning webpage to see the FY25 Tentative Budget and next year's Salary Schedules, which will be posted there after final approval by the Kentucky Department of Education.

In lieu of a student-based performance this month, Fine Arts Director Katherine Lowther shared highlights of teachers and schools across the district throughout the 2023-24 school year. "We have a lot of amazing students," she said. "This is an exceptional district for the arts."

• See the Fine Arts Review

Academic Services -- Assistant Superintendent Meocha Williams spotlighted Career & Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, and CTE Director Amanda Wickersham singled out the four dozen Bryan Station High School students who earned nurse aide certification through the pre-nursing pathway this year. "These students are going to be our future health-care workers," Wickersham said, noting how they can go straight into the workforce and help ease shortages in the medical field.

• View the CTE Presentation

Community Partners -- We welcomed 2023 Golden Apple Award winner Shawn Pryor, a YA and graphic novel author who hosts workshops at Winburn Middle School. "Graphic novels are a gateway to reading," he said, noting how this medium also fosters creativity. "I want to continue to help (students) grow as artists or whatever they want to be," he said.

• View the Community Partners Presentation

Unity, Belonging, & Student Efficacy (UBSE) -- Soraya Matthews shared the monthly report from her office, leading with May as Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. She also shared a "by the numbers" snapshot of UBSE's work across our school system and a video about the "Do You See Me?" professional learning initiative and the upcoming "Do You Hear Me?" follow-up.

• View the UBSE Report

Construction Report -- Chief Operating Officer Myron Thompson listed highlights of the latest work on the new Mary E. Britton Middle School, the Hub for Innovative Learning & Leadership (The HILL), and preschool classrooms at Harrison Elementary.

• View the Construction Updates

Along with the Tentative Budget, board members approved several other proposals including:

• Monthly financial report (video) and
  
• FY25 pay dates for FCPS employees
  

The video series “Murphy’s Minute” features Board Chair Tyler Murphy answering frequently asked questions. Topics include the school board’s roles, responsibilities, service to the community, advocacy, meeting schedules, and decisions that affect our students, schools, and families. Students from several of our secondary schools host the biweekly series.

You can watch the latest video here in the Board Buzz; it's later archived on the main school board webpage and in a YouTube playlist.

The public is welcome to attend planning sessions and action meetings in person at the John D. Price Administration Building, 450 Park Place. (Note: June and July meetings are virtual.) The monthly action meetings are also livestreamed on the FCPS YouTube channel and the district's Video on Demand service. These videos are archived in a YouTube playlist.

• Skim the May 20 action agenda or watch the video.
• Read the official minutes, which will be posted within the agenda of the next board meeting.