FRANKFORT, Ky. — State lawmakers will create a task force to examine the possibility of splitting up Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS).
House Concurrent Resolution 81 passed through the Senate with a vote of 30-7 on Thursday.
Because the resolution is a request for action, rather than a change of law, it cannot be vetoed by Governor Andy Beshear.
The “Efficient and Effective School District Governance” task force will be made up of lawmakers, educators, and members of the public to evaluate how JCPS governs and the potential benefits of splitting the state’s largest school district.
The legislation's passing comes just days after a massive audit accused the district of poor communication in the rollout of its transportation plan coming into the 2023-2024 school year.
Significant bus delays on the first day of school last August caused the district to cancel classes for several days.
State Senator Lindsey Tichenor (R-Smithfield), who voted yes on the resolution, said lawmakers will take the audit into consideration when the task force investigates whether JCPS is too big.
“When you’re talking about transportation, the issue was on such a big scale at JCPS. It’s not going to be a quick fix and I think it was very smart of their board to push this decision on as they reevaluate and look into the information of that 250-page document,” Tichenor said.
When asked how much of JCPS' transportation struggles fall on Superintendent Marty Pollio, Tichenor answered, "A lot of it. It all goes up to him and how he governs and how he directs those under him that he hires and puts in charge of transportation."
When asked for his thoughts on recently passed bills specifically targeting Louisville, Beshear called the strategy “outrageous.”
“The idea that the state legislature, anytime they disagree with Louisville, can take a vote and a whole bunch of people who live outside of Louisville can change policy made by the city of Louisville is just outrageous,” he said, also referencing House Bill 388, which would make Louisville’s mayoral and Metro Council elections nonpartisan.
Beshear continued, "It's clear that the supermajority has an absolute obsession with Louisville, but if that's the case, go and run for an office in Louisville. Don't try to change decisions here in Frankfort."
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