JCPS recommends closing 2 schools, moving others as it faces $188 million budget shortfall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood recommended closing one school, relocating another and merging two more as the district grapples with a $188 million budget shortfall.

“We are trying to take the emotion out of it and make the right decision by the taxpayers,” School board member Taylor Everett said.

JCPS announced recommendations Thursday and gave reasons and next steps for each:

• Closing Liberty High School
  • “This school was initially created to serve students in the credit recovery process. Today, well-rounded credit recovery resources are implemented across JCPS, making the stand-alone Liberty model no longer necessary.”
  • “If passed, students will return to their resides schools, with mandated Personal Learning Plans (PLPs) and robust social-emotional support to provide an accelerated path to credit recovery.”
  • JCPS doesn’t know what it will do with Liberty’s building 
• Closing Zachary Taylor Elementary School, citing cost and an enrollment below 50%
  • “If passed, students will reapply, ranking choices from elementary schools in the Ballard High zone.”
  • JCPS leaders said the Zachary Taylor building would be sold if the school is closed.
• Relocating Waller-Williams Environmental to an “existing facility in the Fairdale neighborhood,” citing cost and 39% capacity and a cost per student of about $111,000
  • “While this is a specialized school and requires additional resources, the average cost per student at JCPS specialized schools is about $62,000.
  • If passed, we’ll be moving this school to an existing facility in the Fairdale neighborhood that’s better suited to its size.
  • Building would be demolished but land retained
• Consolidating King Elementary School and Maupin Elementary School at Maupin’s building
  • (King) is at 70% capacity and the average cost per student is more than $10,000 above the JCPS average for elementary schools.
  • At the same time, Maupin Elementary has 53% enrollment but a lower cost per student. JCPS recommends merging the two schools at Maupin’s more cost-effective facility.
  • Kings building would be sold 
• Moving the Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) to the Gheens Early Childhood Center at Louisville Male High School, citing 21% enrollment
  • District cites a high cost per student of $103,677.

Former Liberty teacher Melissa Brooks, who taught there for 19 years and retired in September, said she was stunned by the announcement.

“It breaks my heart,” Brooks said. “Without Liberty they never would’ve graduated.”

Brooks also said there had been no communication from the district to administrators or teachers before the decision was unveiled.

“There was no prior discussion with administration or teachers before today, and when they presented the news it was almost as if the decision had been made,” she said.

School board member Taylor Everett also said he learned of the plan at the same time as the public.

“I don’t know why we would not have spoken to teachers beforehand,” Everett said, though he added: “I do trust Dr. Yearwood and Dr. Fulk. They do have a reason why they do certain things how they do.”

Each proposal would need approval by the Jefferson County Board of Education. A vote is expected at the board’s Dec. 9 meeting. 

WDRB reached out to every board member. As of this writing, Everett and James Craig had responded. 

Craig said “I’ve had preliminary meetings with the new superintendent to ensure employment opportunities for everyone in the building.” Referring to Zachary Taylor Elementary which is in his district. 

“Assuming that I receive adequate assurances before the next meeting i will vote to support the plan. We will not lay off staff in that building although we are in a financial cutting period we remain in need of good teachers throughout the district. everyone will have a job,” Craig said. 

“I don’t want to be doing this every year — there’s more school closures and boundary changes. If we’re gonna do it, do it all,” said Everett. 

“These are difficult but necessary steps,” Yearwood said in a news release Thursday. “We made this decision after a thorough examination of the quality and capacity of our facilities and our educational models.”

Three public forums will be held next month in response to the proposals:

• Monday, Dec. 1, from 5–6 p.m. at Kammerer Middle School. Address: 7315 Westboro Road
• Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 5–6 p.m. at the JCPS Center for Professional Learning. Address: 3903 Atkinson Square Drive
• Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 5–6 p.m. at Academy @ Shawnee. Address: 4001 Herman St.

Brooks said she believes community voices were not included before a decision was reached.

“I don’t think they gave voice to the people it’s going to affect at all — none,” she said.

Everett said the upcoming forums will be critical.

“What are we missing? What are we not seeing? What are the stories from the parents and the kids that make this maybe not the right decision? That’s why I don’t know how I’m going to vote on this yet,” he said.

JCPS is bracing for more than $130 million in cuts next year. The district released its yearly financial audit this week, giving a detailed look at how the district managed its money last year. Audit firm LBMC found, despite a $188 million budget deficit, the district’s financial position remains strong and stable with an operating budget of about $2.4 billion. More than $19 million of that money went to district administration. JCPS also brought in nearly 9% more revenue than the year prior, including almost 7% more in property taxes. However, the district still carries more than $740 million in debt.

Two more audits of the district’s finances are still in progress.

JCPS said Yearwood will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Friday to address the recommendations.

Top Stories:

UPS plane that crashed in Louisville showed ‘fatigue cracks’ and ‘overstress failure,’ NTSB finds

State report shows 41 JCPS schools in bottom 5% statewide in overall performance

Man indicted on 2 murder charges in west Louisville triple shooting

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.