UPDATE: Jan. 30 at 6 p.m.
Both Fayette County Board Chair Tyler Murphy and the district as a whole have released statements in response to a lawmaker's petition to remove Murphy from office.
See Murphy's statement below.
"The petition that’s been filed in Frankfort calling for my removal lacks merit and is, sadly, the latest of recent politically motivated attacks. I am a career classroom educator who’s been elected by our local community to prioritize the needs of Fayette County’s students. Every decision I’ve made as a school board member has put the needs and interests of students first.
No Board Chair acts in isolation. No policy or financial decision is the result of one individual. In every deliberation, we take into account the diverse voices of the community we serve, ensuring that the needs of our students remain the heartbeat of our work. The effectiveness of our Board’s collective decision making is proven by the historic academic gains our district continues to celebrate.
FCPS outperformed the state average in every subject at every level. Graduation rates have reached a 10-year high.
For the second year in a row no schools in FCPS were identified for low achievement among Black students or economically disadvantaged students.
The evidence shows that Fayette County Public Schools should be viewed as a model for student-centered progress.
Reasonable people can disagree about policy and priorities—and that debate in a democracy is both healthy and necessary. I’ve offered to meet with the Representative behind this petition on multiple occasions to discuss education priorities and have been met with silence. I will be visiting Frankfort soon and would be happy to meet with him and any legislator while I’m there. This is the very type of dialogue our constituents expect and deserve from their elected officials.
Regardless, we must remain focused on working collaboratively to strengthen public education, protect local decision-making, and ensure that every student in Fayette County fulfills their potential."
See the statement from Fayette County Schools below.
"As we celebrate National School Board Appreciation Month, we are reminded of the vital role our elected board members play in our community. While Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) is aware of the petition filed regarding the leadership of our Board of Education, we wish to express our deep appreciation for the role of our school board members as they serve in the most demanding and critical positions in our community. Decisions about local education should be made by local decision makers. Our Board members are elected by our community for our community.
Every decision made by our Board and its leadership is in strict alignment with state laws, Board policies, and the Board Governance Manual, ensuring that no single individual acts in isolation. Our Board Chair functions as a facilitator for the collective will of the full Board and wields no authority beyond the majority of the Board, always incorporating the diverse voices of the community we serve to act in the best interest of our 40,000+ students."
Original Story:
A Republican lawmaker filed a petition Thursday morning seeking to remove the Fayette County School Board chair from office.
Rep. Matt Lockett submitted the petition in Frankfort against Board Chair Tyler Murphy, alleging Murphy breached public trust and committed inappropriate acts that violate the Kentucky Constitution.
The petition seeks Murphy's removal from office and would ban him from holding any future government positions.
Lockett previously called for Murphy's resignation in September.
Below is the petition:
