UPDATE: Sept. 22 at 5:40 p.m.
Fayette County Schools Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins and Board Chair Tyler Murphy have responded to calls by Kentucky lawmakers for resignation, both releasing statements Monday afternoon.
Liggins' full statement can be seen below.
Fayette County Public Schools exists for one reason: to educate children.
On that, our record is clear. FCPS students continue to outpace their peers across the state. Achievement among all, including historically disadvantaged students, is on the rise. Graduation rates are at an all-time high and more young people are earning more college credit and industry certifications than ever before. Our schools are safer and stronger today than they were four years ago.
It is deeply disappointing that Rep. Lockett ignores tremendous academic success to instead focus on a challenge that we are already facing head on.
I have publicly agreed that much of the criticism surrounding Fayette County Public Schools’ budget process has been warranted and taken responsibility for restoring community trust. I have embraced every investigation, examination, and audit, to uncover exactly what has gone wrong, determine how long it has been occurring, and take decisive action to ensure it never happens again.
The budget our Fayette County Board of Education will consider tonight is balanced without raising the tax rate and with continued support to classrooms.
Rep. Lockett would know that if he chose constructive dialogue over political theater. His mischaracterizations do nothing to help children, families, or educators and his grandstanding undermines trust, wastes valuable time, and reveals a lack of understanding of both the facts and the hard work happening in our schools every day.
I have no time for bullies. My commitment is to Fayette County’s children, families, and educators and I will keep showing up every day to deliver on the promise of a world class education for every student.
Murphy's statement can also be seen below.
Representative Lockett has my number, and I welcome any constructive conversation with him or any fellow elected official about how we can work together to support our students, our educators, and our community.
There are multiple pending external and independent reviews, which I welcome and support, focused on finding the facts and developing a clear path forward.
There are a number of things on which Rep. Lockett and I disagree. But I respect his constituents enough to leave that judgement to the voters.
I’ll leave the politics to Frankfort and Washington. Our students are better served when our energy is focused where it belongs: the incredible gains happening in classrooms across Fayette County because the success of our students is the measure our success as a district.
UPDATE: Sept. 22 at 5 p.m.
Two more Kentucky politicians have called for the resignations of Fayette County Schools Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins and Board Chair Tyler Murphy.
Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chairman Sen. Chris McDaniel and Sen. Donald Douglas have now both called for changes in district leadership.
According to Kentucky Senate Republicans, McDaniel said in an open letter that FPCS has had "repeated revelations of questionable spending, budget inconsistencies, and transparency failures that have eroded public trust in district leadership."
The district, McDaniel continued, has practiced lavish travel spending, an attempt at an "unlawful" tax increase, and "misleading budget numbers."
“These are not small missteps. They represent a pattern of poor judgment and broken trust,” he said. “No one is entitled to public office. Leadership is a public trust, and when that trust is broken, change is necessary to protect taxpayers, educators, and families."
Douglas also said in a letter that, as the parent of children who attend school in the district, he is aware of the potential the district has. However, current leadership "has lost the confidence of parents, employees, and taxpayers."
"I have great respect for the men and women working inside our schools, but I am deeply concerned that district leadership has lost the confidence of parents, employees, and taxpayers," he said. "Once trust is broken, it is very difficult to rebuild."
Douglas ended his statement with call to action, encouraging the public to "remain engaged" at meetings with the board and district leadership.
Original Story:
A Kentucky state representative is calling for the immediate resignations of Fayette County Public Schools' top leaders, citing what he describes as widespread dysfunction and financial mismanagement that has undermined the district's educational mission.
Representative Matt Lockett, whose district includes part of Fayette County, on Monday called for Board Chair Tyler Murphy and Superintendent Demetrus Liggins to step down, claiming they have abandoned the district's core purpose of educating children.
"Instead of schools defined by learning and achievement, the district has become a case study in dysfunction, controversy, and collapsing confidence," Lockett said.
"Parents, teachers, and taxpayers face a system where those entrusted with responsibility have squandered trust and undermined the very mission of public education. Instead of putting children first, the superintendent and board chair have allowed controversy to consume the district, eroding confidence at every level," Lockett added. "Parents are angry, educators are frustrated, and students are the ones who ultimately pay the price. It is past time for accountability, the time has come for Tyler Murphy and Demetrus Liggins to put children first and step aside immediately."
Lockett said he is standing with parents, educators, and taxpayers who want to see what he called "the constitutional promise of an effective system of common schools restored in Fayette County."
The representative cited multiple grievances against the current leadership, including excessive administrative spending and what he characterized as an irresponsible compensation package for Liggins. Lockett said that the superintendent's salary increased to $381,767 and included $25,000 for an executive coach, despite public calls for his dismissal.
Other concerns raised by Lockett include:
- Excessive spending on employee travel that exceeds similar expenditures in Jefferson, Boone, and Warren counties
- Continued attempts to raise the occupational tax on Fayette County families
- A $16 million budget shortfall
- Lawsuits from contractors over unpaid invoices
- Near depletion of a multi-million-dollar contingency fund
- Disputes among board members regarding contingency fund amounts
- What Lockett described as a hostile administrative culture
- Obstruction of board work by requiring Open Records Requests for district documents
- Lack of transparency in eminent domain proceedings against homeowners
"Our state constitution requires a system of common schools that provides an efficient, accountable, and effective education for every child," Lockett said. "Fayette County is failing that test. Every single scandal and distraction we've seen is self-inflicted. They are, however, the direct result of poor choices, misplaced priorities, and a glaring lack of leadership."
“This community’s kids deserve better,” Lockett said. “The leadership of Fayette County Public Schools has lost the trust of the people they serve, and they will not regain it. The time has come for Superintendent Liggins and Chairman Murphy to resign so new leadership can begin the hard work of restoring confidence and putting children back at the center of education where they belong."
