What JCPS parents need to know about the district's financial crisis

If you're a Jefferson County Public Schools parent, you probably heard some alarming headlines after Monday night's school board meeting. Here's what's really happening with your child's school district and what it might mean for your family.

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JCPS is running out of money. The district has been spending way more than it brings in, and if nothing changes, it'll start selling off investments to pay teachers and staff by October 2026. That's just over a year away.

The new superintendent, Dr. Brian Yearwood, had to deliver some tough news at a board meeting earlier this week: the district has a $188 million deficit this year and needs to cut at least $80 million from next year's budget to avoid a financial crisis.

How did we get here?

Think of it like a family budget that got out of control. Over the past five years, JCPS spent big on things parents wanted- better teacher pay, safer schools, and programs to help struggling students. But they kept spending money they didn't really have.

Here's where the money went:

• Teacher raises
• School improvements: sound systems, athletic fields, and metal detectors
• Helping struggling schools: racial equity programs
• School safety: police officers, safety administrators, and security systems
• Transportation fixes: millions to solve the bus driver shortage

All of these were things the community asked for. The problem? They were living off savings while spending way more than they earned. Much of that money came from federal funding boosts during COVID, or one-time grants. It wasn't money the district could afford to allocate year after year.

What this means for your child's school

The district leaders made some promises about what they WON'T cut:

• No teacher pay cuts: they're committed to keeping salaries where they are
• Schools protected first: the central office will take the biggest cuts before schools lose resources
• Classroom focus: they want to protect what directly affects your child's learning

But realistically, some things will probably change:

• Fewer central office staff: less administrative support (though this shouldn't directly affect classrooms)
• Program reviews: some extra programs might get reduced or eliminated
• Tighter spending: no more "nice to have" purchases

Will your child's school close?

Board members were very clear: this won't lead to school closures. The cuts are focused on administrative costs and non-essential spending, not shutting down schools.

What about class sizes and teachers?

This is probably your biggest concern. The district says they're committed to protecting teachers' jobs and salaries, but they didn't make any promises about not eliminating some positions. However, since 87% of their budget goes to employee salaries and benefits, it's hard to make major cuts without affecting staffing somehow.

The reality: some support positions might be eliminated, but they're trying to keep classroom teachers.

Could our taxes go up?

Maybe, but not immediately. The district is already collecting about as much in taxes as state law allows without a special vote. They mentioned a few options:

• Utility tax: most other Kentucky school districts have this, but JCPS doesn't. It could raise about $50 million but would show up on your electric, gas, and phone bills
• Property tax increases: would require a public vote

Right now, they're focused on cutting spending rather than raising taxes.

What should parents do?

Stay informed: This situation will evolve quickly. Pay attention to school board meetings and district communications.

Ask questions: If you're worried about specific programs your child participates in, reach out to your school's principal or the district.

Get involved: If you care about maintaining certain programs or services, now is the time to speak up at board meetings or contact board members.

This crisis didn't happen overnight, and it won't be solved overnight. The district leadership admits they weren't transparent enough about how serious things were getting. The previous administration kept spending while assuring everyone they had enough cash to cover it- until they didn't.

The new team is promising complete honesty about the district's finances going forward. That's painful in the short term but necessary for long-term stability.

What happens next?

The critical moment comes in January when the school board has to approve next year's budget with all the cuts identified. Between now and then, district leaders are:

• Reviewing every department for possible cuts
• Looking at contracts to see if they can renegotiate
• Putting new controls in place so this never happens again

Should you be worried?

Yes and no. Yes, because this is a serious financial crisis that will likely mean some changes to how the district operates. No, because your child will still go to school, still have teachers, and the district is taking aggressive action to fix the problem.

The people making decisions now seem to understand both the severity of the crisis and the importance of protecting what matters most- your child's education. But it's going to be a challenging year as they work to get spending back in line with reality.

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