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 "Grow Your Own" contracts with the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University, who are key partners in efforts to develop a pipeline of principals and leaders within FCPS.

Among other consent agenda items that the board approved:

• A contract with Bluegrass Community & Technical College to be our district's convener organization to bridge the gap between K-12 schools and industry partners; and

• Scenario 6 in the rezoning plans related to Mary E. Britton Middle School, projected to open in fall 2025. The new school will help accommodate growth in the Hamburg and Polo Club areas, and alleviate overcrowding and balance enrollment at other area middle schools. | View the rezoning presentation

There were no action items on the night's agenda.

Academic Services: Assistant Superintendent Meocha Williams and leaders Jesse Mettille and Shamiah Booker shared a recap of this summer's professional learning (PL) opportunities, which included conferences, a statewide leadership institute, FCPS YOUniversity onboarding of new employees, and the district's PL summit.

• Video: Sights and sounds of professional learning
• View the professional learning presentation

Operations: Myron Thompson, the district's chief operating officer, highlighted the progress in our construction and renovation projects. His August report covered Mary E. Britton Middle School, the Hub for Innovative Learning & Leadership (HILL), and new preschool classrooms at Harrison Elementary.

• View the monthly construction report

Community Partner Update: The Kentucky Community Schools Initiative, coordinated by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, is a comprehensive approach to education that better aligns community assets to support students. In FCPS, Millcreek and Northern elementaries are part of the statewide cohort, which includes 20 school districts. Each district will receive about $1.5 million over the next five years for this initiative. "This underscores that education is a shared responsibility, and every community has different needs," said Board Chair Tyler Murphy.

• View the community partner presentation

Fine Arts Director Katherine Lowther recapped the Summer Arts Intensive, which culminated with a districtwide production of the Broadway musical "Hairspray." Over 60 students from all six high schools each selected a theatre component or visual art focus for the three-week session. "There were a lot of opportunities for students to engage in a variety of different ways," Lowther said. Board Chair Tyler Murphy said the students didn't just put on a production -- they actually learned the meaning behind it. "It was a delight to see it. You did set the bar high," he told Lowther.

• Video: "Hairspray" Roundtable

• Skim the Aug. 26 agenda (with PDF attachments) or watch the meeting video.
• Read the official minutes, which will be posted within the agenda of the next board meeting

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. These videos are then archived in a YouTube playlist.

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, which is slated to resume in September after the summer break.

• The videos are archived on the school board's main webpage and in a YouTube playlist.