Board Buzz

We offer a recap of this month's action meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education as part of our commitment to providing timely updates for students, families, staff, and the community.

The board agreed to amend next year's 2025-26 instructional calendar to add two more professional learning days for staff: Oct. 6 (the Monday after fall break) and April 13 (the Monday after spring break). Students will make up those class days on Nov. 4 and May 28, respectively. Staff input led to these changes.

• Revised 2025-26 Calendar

Transportation Shifts

The board also approved a Transportation Department plan to transition over 200 bus monitors and bus drivers from 6-hour to 8-hour shifts. The 40-hour work week will reduce overtime and help with recruitment and retention of employees.

Both items were on the board's consent agenda, having already been discussed at the planning meeting earlier in December.

The school board’s Equity Council Committee presented the 2024 PG Peeples Equity Champion Award to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Psi Tau Chapter, whose members volunteer their time and mentor youngsters at George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys. Peeples attended the board meeting along with last year's winner Kayla Chambers-Reed, now a senior at Lafayette High School. "These men give selflessly of themselves. They are kind, firm, and truly want to help all students," Kayla said of the fraternity.

• Equity Champion Presentation

The board also recognized December's Kids' Champion Award winner, paraeducator Tolley Carter of Beaumont Middle School. His dedication and compassion make him an invaluable member of Team FCPS.

Leaders of the Bluegrass Youth Sustainability Council (both from Henry Clay High School) described their communitywide organization and a few recent accomplishments, such as water bottle refilling stations in schools, energy audits in FCPS and LFUCG buildings, and trees and solar benches on campuses. The students also cited this year's goals of various committees, including support for community gardens at elementary schools and creation of a digital map of our campuses' tree canopy.

• BYSC Presentation

Representatives from Hanover Research shared highlights of their data analysis of student achievement, behavior, and program access at seven of our magnet and school programs: Carter G. Woodson Academy, George Washington Carver STEM Academy, Rise STEM Academy, STEAM Academy, Re-Engagement Center at Success Academy, Virtual Learning Academy, and Dixie Magnet Elementary. The overall finding was there are areas of celebration and areas of opportunity across the district.

• Hanover Presentation

In the lone action item on the night's agenda, the school board approved the monthly financial report for November. The consent agenda included several contracts and other routine matters, and among the written reports was the latest construction progress.

At the start of the meeting, Superintendent Demetrus Liggins, board Chair Tyler Murphy, and Vice Chair Amy Green paused to thank outgoing board members Marilyn Clark and Jason Moore. Each also received flowers and an engraved clock in acknowledgement of their time in service to FCPS. Liggins also noted that Clark was the first ever Black woman to serve on our school board. "You've cracked that glass ceiling completely wide open for many more to come after you," he said.

Nearly all our elementary schools participated in this year's FCPS Holiday Card Contest. "The arts are a beautiful way to communicate," said Katherine Lowther, director of Fine Arts. The design by Elena Duan of SCAPA at Bluegrass was the overall winner, as chosen by the superintendent. Enjoy our video featuring the top school-level entries. Happy Holidays!

The Board Meeting Buzz is posted in the News feed on our district's homepage (FCPS.net). For more information about the latest meeting:

• Skim the Dec. 19 agenda or watch the recorded meeting.
• Read the official minutes, which will be posted within the agenda of the next board meeting.

Members of the public may attend the school board's planning sessions and action meetings at the John D. Price Administration Building, 450 Park Place, where public comment is welcome. The monthly action meetings are also livestreamed on the FCPS YouTube channel and the district's Video on Demand service.

The video series “Murphy’s Minute” features Board Chair Tyler Murphy answering frequently asked questions about the school board’s role and responsibilities, service to the community, advocacy, and decisions that affect our students and schools. Students from several of our secondary schools host the series. Here is the latest episode: