District leaders shared updates on budget progress along with future staffing plans and potential school changes.
JCPS superintendent defends cuts, outlines school changes and possible pay raises
Story Highlights
District reports more than $31 million in savings and the elimination of 86 central office positions.
Teacher and staff raises remain possible, but only after achieving budget stability.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood defended the district’s budget decisions and outlined future priorities Wednesday as he addressed questions about cuts, potential school closures, and pay raises.
Yearwood initially committed to $44 million in central office reductions and the elimination of 300 jobs. Updated figures show more than $31 million in savings and 86 fewer central office positions.
When asked whether the district overpromised, Yearwood said it had not.
“I wouldn’t say we over promised, like I said its a process,” he said.
He explained that as the process progressed, officials could not implement some proposed cuts. He pointed to widespread pushback on changes such as reducing mental health practitioners. While he did not specify how close JCPS is to completing the cuts, he said additional job reductions remain possible. He also stated that insolvency is no longer expected in 2027.
Yearwood spoke during a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, where attendees questioned the district’s financial challenges.
One attendee asked whether teachers and aides might receive raises.
“I believe we need to pay our teachers more our aids more,” Yearwood said.
He emphasized that any raises would depend on stabilizing the district’s finances, noting that 87% of JCPS’s $2 billion budget already goes toward salaries.
Another question focused on whether the district plans to “right-size” schools, which could involve closures or boundary changes.
“We have to make sure we are right sizing our schools to have a responsible budget,” Yearwood said.
He said those discussions remain in early stages and no final decisions have been made. The district has already confirmed plans to close King and Zachary Taylor elementary schools next year.
Yearwood also addressed academic performance, noting that most JCPS students are not currently on grade level in math and reading. He said the district plans to focus on Lexile and Quantile measures—tools used to track student progress in reading and math throughout the year—which had not previously been monitored across all schools.
When asked whether the district would retain students who are not on grade level, Yearwood pointed to research on the risks.
“We’ve seen the research on what happens when you hold a child back the likelihood of dropping out is there,” he said.
He added that retention could still occur in exceptional cases.
Another attendee asked whether the district plans to revive the “Every 1 Reads” program, which once had about 10,000 volunteers reading with students at its peak in the 2010s.
“100 percent that is a dream of mine to achieve that again,” Yearwood said.
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