Here’s why FCPS paid Superintendent Liggins $22K before his first day of work
When the Herald-Leader published several years of Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Demetrus Liggins’ travel expenses last month, one of the unanswered questions was about his pre-employment expenses.
Namely: Why did the district pay Liggins $22,272 before July 26, 2021, his first day on the job?
New records obtained by the Herald-Leader through the Kentucky Open Records Act shed some light on that answer.
Liggins was reimbursed $8,418 for 7 1/2 days worked before his first day of employment, as well as a $10,000 moving fee. Other pre-employment costs included:
- Three flights: $1,336.
- Seven nights of hotel stays in Lexington: $1,584.
- Rental car: $654.
- Dinners: $122.
- Parking: $96.
- Baggage: $30.
- Taxi: $29.
The original amount Liggins charged FCPS prior to his start date was nearly $29,204, according to documents the Herald-Leader received in September. It’s not clear why the receipts the Herald-Leader received in a subsequent Open Records Act request covered only $22,272 in expenses.
The pre-employment expenses were allowable under Liggins’ contract, which was approved by the Fayette County School Board, said Miranda Scully, spokesperson for the district.
Miranda Scully, a spokeswoman for the district, said Liggins contract, which was approved by the Fayette County School Board, allowed him to be paid for work prior to his official start date and for moving and other expenses.
“Dr. Liggins’ contract states that, ‘Prior to the term of employment the Superintendent may undertake up to ten (10) calendar days of travel to, in, and return from Lexington, Kentucky, for transition activities including but not necessarily limited to assessing district needs, meeting with personnel, meeting with community members, and attending District meetings or events,’” Scully said.
Liggins came to Fayette County from the Greenville Independent School District, near Dallas.
His FCPS contract is not unique, Scully said. Other superintendents had similar clauses for pre-employment expenses.
“We can confirm that at least one previous superintendent was provided assistance with relocation costs and reimbursed for pre-hire costs necessary to facilitate their transition,” Scully said.
The amount of that superintendent’s reimbursement was not immediately available.
Liggins’ spending has been scrutinized in recent months amid significant budget problems in the district.
In May, district leaders said additional tax revenue was needed to cover a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall. The district sought to increase its occupational license tax to cover the gap, but Kentucky’s attorney general quickly deemed the effort unlawful.
Though its final approved budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 eliminated the projected shortfall, the district’s contingency, or rainy day fund, has dwindled significantly.
Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball is conducting a special examination of the district’s finances.
A pair of Herald-Leader stories last month revealed expense records that led to some Republican lawmakers to call for the resignation of top leaders in the district.
First, a story showed school employees had racked up more than $2.5 million on school-issued procurement cards from August 2024 to January 2025. Some of those expenses included $3,000 meals and more than $3,000 on an ax-throwing event for school personnel.
Then, a second story showed Liggins had spent $152,000 from January 2023 to May 2025, including 29 trips and $28,000 on food.
