State report: Fayette school district violated policy in use of school gymnasium

The Kentucky Office of Education Accountability in a recent investigation found Fayette County Public Schools allowed a for-profit cheer and tumble business owned by a district employee to use a school gymnasium without following established district policies.

The Herald-Leader obtained an investigative report through the Kentucky Open Records Act showing the state accountability agency is giving Superintendent Demetrus Liggins until July 1 to resolve the violation that involved a business called Lex Athletics.

The for-profit used a gymnasium at The Learning Center, a special academic program on Price Road.. The state report did not name the district employee who was the business owner.

The school district is updating its systems to comply with the state’s decision, said Fayette district spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith.

Kentucky law empowers the Office of Education Accountability to investigate complaints alleging violations of education statues and regulations.

“(The Office of Education Accountability) interviews with various district staff indicated uncertainty in how approval for use is to be obtained. All of this is concerning, particularly if the use is for-profit. More importantly, it is of great concern if the requested use involves physical risk to participants, as was the situation with the cheer organization using district property in this case,” the Feb. 17 report said.

“Therefore, (the agency) finds the district in violation of its own policy and procedures concerning facilities usage with respect to the allegation. Policies also significantly conflict with website documents, creating confusion,” the report said.

“(Fayette schools) is in receipt of the recent (agency) findings regarding facility usage and policy. We are currently reviewing and updating all district-wide systems and documents to ensure alignment and consistency when applied across all of our schools,” Davidson-Smith said Monday.

This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM.