LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An accounting firm says Jefferson County Public Schools did not have clear budgeting protocols as the district works to address a $188 million deficit.
Accounting law firm Plante Moran reported that JCPS lacked clearly defined financial oversight guidelines.
“We also noted that budget training exists for principals but not for central office personnel that have budget authority,” a firm representative said.
Without written guidelines, department leaders were left uncertain about how to manage and oversee their budgets, leading to inconsistent practices across the district.
The review comes as some positions may see reduced time working with students.
“We need time in our office to do those things, and we run out of time when schools are in session because we are busy, busy, busy, busy,” said Melissa Pascua, a JCPS psychologist for nearly 30 years. “We are getting more and more referrals, and it’s just overwhelming. We’re scared that we’re not going to be able to do our job.”
The Jefferson County Board of Education initially proposed cutting 13 working days from the school psychologist position as part of its Exceptional Child Education reorganization plan.
“We’re the ones rushing to the scene of a crisis after a student is shot or there’s a bus crash, and we’re the ones you call on the first day of kindergarten when a student arrives in the school wearing diapers and is unable to communicate verbally,” said Amy McClain, a retired school psychologist, following an hour of public comments.
The proposal did not reduce the number of working days for supervisors. Kim Chevalier, chief of exceptional child education, said supervisors maintain their schedules because they are responsible for compliance duties.
The board ultimately voted to reject Superintendent Brian Yearwood’s recommendations, a move that sparked frustration.
“I’m getting threats by phone calls,” Yearwood said. “I’m trying to lead. I’m trying to lead transparently.”
“If he insists on a recommendation, create it,” board member James Craig said. “Sell it to the board and bring it back to us at a later meeting. I don’t want the top-down approach to this any more.”
Pascua said she hopes the district will seriously consider the concerns raised by school psychologists.
“I hope that the supervisors can come to the table and talk about what they do with all their extra days because it’s cluttered,” Pascua said.
The board agreed to return to the bargaining table with those affected in Exceptional Child Education and present revised changes at the next meeting. The district also voted to adopt Plante Moran’s recommendations.
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