Fayette superintendent, school board silent on budget director’s retaliation claim
One key budget-related item was not mentioned Thursday night at a special board meeting on Fayette County Public Schools’ finances: a letter from the district’s budget director claiming she was put on leave in retaliation for warning of financial problems in the district.
Ann Sampson-Grimes, in a letter her lawyer shared with district officials Wednesday night, said her superiors ignored her warnings about the district’s budget problems and then retaliated against her by placing her on administrative leave.
“Each time Ms. Grimes advised that budget cuts must be enforced, her peers and superiors pushed back on her suggestions, claimed she was incorrect, or flat-out ignored her sound and correct advice,” attorney Brandon Voelker said in a letter to FCPS Superintendent Demetrus Liggins and Tyler Murphy, chairman of the school board.
Voelker said Grimes has claims under Kentucky’s Whistleblower Act, in addition to discrimination and harassment claims and violations of her due process rights. He is demanding that her job be reinstated.
A lawsuit has not been filed. Voelker’s letter claimed Sampson-Grimes had been put on leave to ensure her “information is not presented to the Board.”
Liggins and school board members chairman Tyler Murphy, vice chairman Amy Green, Penny Christian, Amanda Ferguson and Monica Mundy did not discuss Voelker’s letter at Thursday’s meeting.
The Herald-Leader has asked district officials multiple times about Sampson-Grimes employment status and her claims of retaliation.
On Thursday, district spokeswoman Miranda Scully said, “FCPS does not comment on personnel matters.”
Thursday’s special board meeting came amid significant budget challenges in the district. It has a $16 million deficit, and Liggins said this month the district’s contingency fund was much smaller than expected.
Amid significant public pushback, Liggins announced at Thursday’s meeting that officials were scrapping a second effort at increasing the city’s occupational tax rate. The first effort was deemed unlawful by Kentucky’s attorney general.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM.