Board Buzz
March 25, 2024
We provide this recap of our school board meetings as part of our commitment to providing timely updates for students, families, staff, and the community.
Top Takeaway: Graduations Schedule!
This spring's six high school graduations will follow the last day of school, which is confirmed as Wednesday, May 29. The Office of School Leadership announced this lineup for the Class of 2024:
Thursday, May 30
- 10 a.m. – Lafayette High School
- 2 p.m. – Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
- 6 p.m. – Tates Creek High School
Friday, May 31
- 10 a.m. – Frederick Douglass High School
- 2 p.m. – Bryan Station High School
- 6 p.m. – Henry Clay High School
All the commencements are in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, and each ceremony will be livestreamed on the FCPS YouTube channel. Seniors will receive detailed instructions about their event. Please direct any questions to the high school.
Student Performance
Lafayette Madrigal Singers
We open the board action meetings with a student performance to highlight our Fine Arts instruction and opportunities. For March, Fine Arts Director Katherine Lowther lined up the Lafayette Madrigal Singers, under the direction of Ryan Marsh. This ensemble performs choral repertoire from all time periods and styles with an emphasis on world music and contemporary choral literature. The piece prepared for the board meeting, "Hela Rotan," is an Indonesian folk song.
Superintendent's Report
Women's History Month -- Superintendent Demetrus Liggins presented an FCPS video highlighting diverse women serving in various jobs and roles across the district, each enjoying their exciting HERstory.
Community Partner Spotlight -- Bryan Station High School's Whitney Young and Andrea Baker talked about SisterKeeper, a mentoring program that supports young women of color.
Academic Services -- Assistant Superintendent Meocha Williams recapped the district's efforts to select high-quality instructional resources for the classroom, especially for math and English language arts. We received 38 bids from 22 vendors, and a screening committee narrowed the options for the next step. Staff and families then had a chance to review the potential products, FCPS hosted a vendor fair for the community, and the eligible vendors made their final pitch to the steering committee. A recommendation will be brought to the school board in late April.
Williams also shared a report on the Deeper Learning initiative, which aims to make education more vibrant and meaningful for our students. "It's about hunkering down and focusing on what we do," she said. The effort also involves sharpening the focus of professional learning for teachers and staff, starting with this summer's summit.
Operations -- Chief Operating Officer Myron Thompson recapped the latest construction updates on Mary E. Britton Middle School and the Hub for Innovative Learning & Leadership (our new CTE facility where Eastside and Southside techs will combine). Both campuses are scheduled to open in fall 2025.
Unity, Belonging, & Student Efficacy (UBSE) -- Chief Soraya Matthews' report highlighted March as Women's History Month and saluted a half-dozen female employees with decades of continuous service in Fayette County Public Schools. The board and superintendent paused for a group photo with the honorees: Robin Barker, Beth Randolph, Becky Brown, Barbara Williams, Sharron Wesley-Porter, and Sharon Guess. Rhonda Lewis was unable to attend.
School Board Action
Under the action agenda, the board approved the Monthly Financial Report.
Among consent items, the board approved the purchase of 20 school buses to make up for the COVID-year gap, the initial project application for construction of a new Henry Clay High School, and HVAC repairs at various schools. The board also signed off on its meeting schedule for the 2024-25 school year:
Video Series: Q&A with the Board Chair
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 find "Murphy’s Minute" here in the Board Buzz, on our FCPS social media platforms, on the main board webpage, and in a YouTube playlist. Here is the latest episode:
How to Watch the Board Meetings
The public is welcome to attend planning sessions and action meetings in person at the John D. Price Administration Building, 450 Park Place. The monthly action meetings are also livestreamed on the FCPS YouTube channel and the district's Video on Demand service.
Need More Details?
- Review: Skim the March 25 action agenda or watch the entire meeting.
- Online: You can read this Board Buzz in the News feed on our homepage (FCPS.net).
- Board Buzz: If you do not already receive our recap emails, you can sign up now.
- YouTube: Videos of the action meetings are housed in a YouTube playlist.
- Archives: The official minutes are posted later, within the agenda of the next board meeting.