3 Republican lawmakers call on Fayette superintendent, school board chair to resign

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 5 p.m. Sept. 22 to reflect that Superintendent Demetrus Liggins and school board Chairman Tyler Murphy responded to Rep. Matt Lockett’s call for their resignations.

Three state lawmakers called on Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins and school board Chairman Tyler Murphy to resign on Monday.

The press releases started Monday morning when Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, said Fayette’s students “deserve better.”

“This community’s kids deserve better,” Lockett said in a news release. “The leadership of Fayette County Public Schools has lost the trust of the people they serve, and they will not regain it.”

On Monday afternoon, his sentiments were echoed in releases from Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville and Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, chairman of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

Douglas and Lockett both represents parts of Fayette County.

Lockett’s announcement — the first call for resignations from a state lawmaker — was another blow to the district’s embattled top leadership, which has dealt with months of controversial fallout over a budget crisis. The district tried to pass a new payroll tax with little public notice to help solve it, a move that was stopped by Attorney General Russell Coleman.

A citizens work group that convened come up with ideas to solve the shortfall eventually revealed the district had spent down its contingency fund below the district’s normal 6%. One of Fayette’s budget directors filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the district, saying she was demoted for telling leaders the budget had to shrink.

Liggins was called to testify in front of a legislative committee last week, where lawmakers excoriated him over travel and other expenses.

Lockett said he is standing with parents, educators, and taxpayers who want to see the constitutional promise of an effective system of common schools restored in Fayette County.

“Instead of schools defined by learning and achievement, the district has become a case study in dysfunction, controversy, and collapsing confidence. Parents, teachers, and taxpayers face a system where those entrusted with responsibility have squandered trust and undermined the very mission of public education,” Lockett said. “Instead of putting children first, the superintendent and board chair have allowed controversy to consume the district, eroding confidence at every level.”

McDaniel, who oversees the crafting of the state budget, said: “Fayette County Public Schools receives roughly $274 million each year in state support. With that level of investment comes a duty to be open, careful, and accountable.

“Instead, the public has seen lavish travel spending, misleading budget numbers, and even an unlawful tax-increase attempt. Taxpayers, parents, and teachers deserve better.”

Douglas said as a former Fayette County parent, he knows the potential the district has.

“This moment is not about politics or partisanship,” he said in a release. “It is not about race or economics. It is about local accountability, trust, and keeping the focus on students. I have great respect for the men and women working inside our schools, but I am deeply concerned that district leadership has lost the confidence of parents, employees, and taxpayers. Once trust is broken, it is very difficult to rebuild.”

In response to Lockett’s call for his resignation, Liggins said, “I have no time for bullies. My commitment is to Fayette County’s children, families, and educators and I will keep showing up every day to deliver on the promise of a world class education for every student.”

FCPS students continue to outpace their peers across the state. Achievement among all, including historically disadvantaged students, is on the rise.

“Graduation rates are at an all-time high and more young people are earning more college credit and industry certifications than ever before. Our schools are safer and stronger today than they were four years ago,” he said.

“It is deeply disappointing that Rep. Lockett ignores tremendous academic success to instead focus on a challenge that we are already facing head on,” Liggins said.

“I have publicly agreed that much of the criticism surrounding Fayette County Public Schools’ budget process has been warranted and taken responsibility for restoring community trust. I have embraced every investigation, examination, and audit, to uncover exactly what has gone wrong, determine how long it has been occurring, and take decisive action to ensure it never happens again,” Liggins said.

He said the budget the Fayette County Board of Education is considering Monday is balanced without raising the tax rate and with continued support to classrooms.

Murphy said he’d be happy to talk to any elected officials.

“There are a number of things on which Rep. Lockett and I disagree. But I respect his constituents enough to leave that judgement to the voters,” Murphy said. “I’ll leave the politics to Frankfort and Washington. Our students are better served when our energy is focused where it belongs: the incredible gains happening in classrooms across Fayette County because the success of our students is the measure our success as a district.”

School board member Penny Christian said in response to Lockett’s call for resignations, “Although detached from what FCPS is and does, he absolutely has a right to his opinion. However, I am in this work for students, and losing Dr. Liggins would not be in the best interest of the students of Fayette County Public Schools.”

Lockett’s news release said he has been outspoken in his efforts to hold board leadership and the superintendent accountable for consistent failures in judgment, including chronic mismanagement and a refusal to prioritize students. He has repeatedly warned that the continued dysfunction at the top of Fayette County Public Schools threatens not only academic outcomes but also public confidence in the entire system.

Lockett cited several grievances, including:

• Excessive spending on administrative additives for failing school district leaders.
• An irresponsible compensation package for Superintendent Liggins, which increased to $381,767 and included $25,000 for an executive coach, despite public calls and petitions for his dismissal.
• The approval of excessive spending on employee travel, exceeding Jefferson, Boone, and Warren counties’ spending for similar travel.
• Continued attempts to raise the occupational tax on Fayette County families.
• Financial mismanagement resulting in a $16 million budget shortfall.
• Financial mismanagement resulting in lawsuits for unpaid invoices from contractors.
• Disputes with board members regarding the actual amount held in contingency.
• A hostile administrative culture fostered by failed board leadership.
• Obstruction of the work and leadership of the FCPS Board of Education by denying access to district documents without an open records request.
• Lack of transparency in attempting to use eminent domain to seize land from homeowners

The Fayette school board is scheduled to meet Monday night to approve its final working budget.

Herald-Leader staff member Linda Blackford contributed to this article.

This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM.