Spencer County Public Schools Superintendent Willie Foster is providing more insight into the district’s plan to reset its budget, including a proposed one-year freeze on scheduled pay increases.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — After an online post encouraged Spencer County community members to speak out in support of teachers, Foster shared additional details about the steps the district is considering to stabilize its finances.
Over the weekend, community members learned that Foster plans to ask school board members to approve a one-year freeze on step increases for district employees. The online post urged residents to contact board members and vote against the proposal. An elementary school PTO also released a statement asking the board to explore other options.
Foster explained why he introduced the idea.
“I chose to share the idea of the freeze directly with our staffs. They deserved to hear that directly from me and did. I also sought their feedback. That feedback has been strong and fully understandable. And we will adjust accordingly,” Foster wrote Sunday in an email.
He emphasized that every option remains under consideration as the district works toward a full budget reset.
“We have made it very clear that it required dramatic adjustments and has made the current fiscal year very tight,” Foster wrote. “Our job is to build and operate within a budget that reflects our projected revenues and expenses that don’t exceed those.”
Foster said personnel costs account for just over 85% of the district’s overall budget. He noted that the district has already reviewed and adjusted several spending areas, including building maintenance and repairs, transportation maintenance and repairs, and supplies.
The district is also rebidding contracts for services such as sanitation, insurance and mowing. Foster said officials decided not to purchase new buses this year and have suspended Chromebook replacements.
Along with proposals to reduce personnel costs, Foster said he included plans to cut more than $200,000 in Central Office staffing expenses.
He clarified that the school board has not yet reviewed the proposals. Foster added that he and board members welcome community engagement and have aimed to remain transparent throughout the process.
Still, some community members believe the district could communicate more openly. Parent Korey Craddock said teachers and staff are being asked to shoulder the burden of a problem they did not create.
“The teachers, the students, you know, they had nothing to do with this happening, but they’re the ones that are being asked to sacrifice and, you know, try to recoup,” Craddock said.
The district plans to present the proposals at Tuesday’s board meeting.
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