Despite school board leadership shake-up, new superintendent could be hired by June

Saying “it is time for new leadership,” Stephanie Spires announced at the beginning of Tuesday’s school board meeting that she was stepping down as head of the panel on which she’ll continue to serve.

Tyler Murphy was subsequently chosen by the board as its new chairman with newly elected school board member Amanda “Amy” Green named vice chair. Murphy, who was elected to the Fayette board in 2018, is a teacher in Boyle County and Green is a former Fayette teacher.

Spires has been chairwoman since 2018. She was first appointed to the school board in 2017.

The leadership overhaul occurs at a time of intense change following the death of Superintendent Manny Caulk amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

District human resource director Jennifer Dyar said district officials want to hire a new superintendent by June so that person can begin the job by July 1.

Another new board member, former Fayette principal Tom Jones, was sworn in Tuesday night along with Green. She replaced Daryl Love, and Jones replaced Ray Daniels. Love and Daniels did not seek re-election.

“I had no idea the amount of work the board chair has to do,” Spires said. She said that’s not why she stepped down, that she had done the work and it was simply time to take a break and pass the torch. Spires said she had accomplished some top goals, including giving each student their own technological device and the creation of the Fayette County Public Education Foundation which raises funds to support the educational needs of the community.

“But there is still a lot of work to do. Prior to Covid 19, over 60 percent of FCPS students lived in poverty and we know that number has grown over the past 10 months,” she said. “I look forward to working with the other FCPS board members to ensure that every child in Fayette County graduates college and career ready.”

Spires she would continue to work on the board in a ”unified fashion” and support the new chair.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the FCPS community as school board chair but it is time for new leadership,” said Spires.

Spires said, “I don’t know,” in response to whether she had the votes among other school board members if she had sought to continue as chair.

On Wednesday morning, Spires, a foster and adoptive mother, posted on Facebook that she was “looking forward to spending more time with my family and growing my business to help foster and adoptive families.”

Murphy said he was honored and humbled to be “elected chair of the Fayette County Board of Education during this important and pivotal time for our district.”

“I know that our board team will be devoted to that work. My passion for the children we serve motivates me each and every day as a classroom educator. And it will motivate me each and every day as your board chair,” Murphy said.

This story was originally published January 5, 2021 at 5:22 PM.