KY education officials met with FCPS last week. Neither will say what was discussed

Amid a budget crisis, Fayette County Public Schools officials met Oct. 16 with staff from the Kentucky Department of Education, though neither party will disclose what was discussed.

Confirmation of the meeting came via emails the Herald-Leader received Tuesday from the state agency under the Kentucky Open Records Act.

KDE spokesperson Jennifer Ginn said the agency provides a wide variety of assistance to districts and schools across Kentucky on an almost daily basis.

“For more information about what was discussed in this particular meeting, please reach out to the school district,” she said.

FCPS district spokesperson Miranda Scully responded “no comment” Tuesday when asked about the meeting.

Lexington’s school district, the second largest in the state, has been under fire since May due to a budget crisis revealed as officials were quietly planning to increase the school’s occupational license tax and use those additional dollars to offset a budget deficit.

Superintendent Demetrus Liggins canceled the plan as public criticism of district finances increased and the district budget’s beginning balance dwindled.

State legislators leveled harsh criticism at Liggins, with some Republicans calling for his resignation. Audits and investigations into the district’s finances are in the works.

Since that time, Liggins has said a projected budget shortfall of $16 million has been solved, and the school board approved a $872.2 million budget in September.

In an Oct. 8 email, Liggins’ administrative assistant Andria Jackson sent an email to Associate Education Commissioner Matt Ross that indicates KDE may have initiated the meeting.

“Superintendent Liggins asked me to reach out to exchange some dates for meetings between KDE & FCPS. Do you foresee needing several dates or might that be determined after your first meeting? Could you provide me with two dates to offer to our folks for the initial meeting? Also, would you all prefer to come here to Fayette or meet in Frankfort?” she wrote.

“Let’s start with a meeting and then determine next steps from there,” Ross replied.

Subsequent emails show that Oct. 16 was the meeting date at FCPS’ Central Office, called the John D. Price building on Park Place, in Lexington.

Ross wrote in an email he also wanted Chay Ritter, Sheila Miller and Marshall Smith, identified as KDE staff, at the meeting.

Kentucky school districts’ beginning budget fund balance, the true contingency, must legally be at 2% of the total district budget or it can trigger KDE intervention. FCPS policy states the contingency should be at 6% percent of the total budget.

Ginn said Monday FCPS has submitted a report of 5.10% in contingency.

“ At this time, there is no management audit or similar review planned,” Ginn said.

This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 6:08 PM.