Fayette schools corrects cost information if board members skip training

Fayette County Public Schools officials on Monday corrected information they released last week about the proposed cost of school board training.

The Fayette school board could pay at least $90,000 to a consultant hired to lead team-building exercises over the next two years, but school board member Amanda Ferguson has said it’s likely she’ll skip the introductory retreat scheduled for this week.

On Monday, district spokeswoman Miranda Scully said if the full team, defined as all five elected board members and the superintendent, participates in the full training series, the cost to the district is $45,000 per year over two years, or a total investment of $90,000. If the full team does not participate, the cost jumps to $100,000.

The current school board has not yet voted on whether to proceed with the two-year training. Superintendent Demetrus Liggins clarified at Monday’s school board meeting that there is no financial penalty if all school board members don’t attend the two-day retreat.

In a Sunday Facebook post, Ferguson said despite recent statements from the district, the district does not have a signed contract with the Council of the Great City Schools to provide training to the board of education.

She and school board member Monica Mundy asked an initial retreat be postponed.

Liggins confirmed at Monday night’s monthly school board meeting that the service agreement with the Council of Great City Schools was never actually put on the board agenda again after it had been postponed in 2023 when a former board member resigned.

Liggins said the two-day retreat can proceed this Thursday July 31 and Friday August 1 even without formal board approval of the contract. The session falls within the scope of the services already provided by the Council, he said.

This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM.