UPDATE: Sept. 23 at 11 p.m.
Monday’s meeting had a lot of clapping and yelling, and it wasn’t because the board approved the working budget for the next year.
This budget is more than $20 million dollars less than the tentative budget from last month. Board Chair Tyler Murphy said that the district was able to pull $1 million in district expenses, including layoffs.
An additional $4 million in staff reductions, in which the district is leaving positions unfilled after an educator leaves or retires.
They will also adjust retirement funds.
“I know it’s something that I have said multiple times, I don’t know what time we got it on Sunday, just overall, we got to do things differently," said Board Member Dr. Monica Muny.
Some board members expressed concern after not receiving an organized list of proposed changes between the tentative and working budget until Sunday.
“It is very clear that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand's doing, which does not inspire a lot of confidence,” when board members are not, able to even understand themselves or have clear communication with each other,” said Laura Webb. “Lifelong learner components, for future life ready, we look at collaborative and cooperative.”
Webb said that it feels like public input is not welcome at board meetings.
The motion to approve the budget included a stipulation that Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins must present a plan to the board to raise the school district’s contingency fund back to 6% in the coming years.
This proposed budget had the contingency fund just under 4%.
Original Story:
After months of discussion and multiple meetings, the Fayette County Public Schools Board voted on Monday night to approve the 2025-26 working fiscal year budget, 3-2.
Part of the motion included a requirement in which Dr. Demetrus Liggins must return to the board with a plan to restore the district's contingency fund back to 6%.
This comes just days before the September 30 deadline, when the state requires school districts to have budget submitted.
This is a developing story.
