Superintendent says he has no ties to Texas firm hired to audit Fayette schools

A Texas accounting firm will conduct an audit of Fayette County Public Schools after the school board approved a contract Monday night with a 3-2 vote.

The school board approved the recommendation by a district audit committee to hire the Texas firm Weaver and Tidwell.

School Board Chairman Tyler Murphy, vice chair Amy Green, and board member Penny Christian voted to approve the Texas firm conducting the audit. Board members Monica Mundy and Amanda Ferguson voted against the motion, although they initially voted for an external audit.

Mundy and Ferguson said they were voting against the motion to hire the Texas firm because they thought that such a district audit would overlap with the special examination Kentucky’s auditor is conducting.

Mundy and Ferguson raised questions about spending money on the audit, as people in the community have been upset about other, newly proposed cost-cutting measures. While Mundy and Ferguson didn’t discuss specifics on the controversial proposed measures in explaining their votes, the cost-cutting measures include placing two individual same-sex STEM programs in one new building and closing a specialty program called The Stables.

Ferguson also said she was concerned that Superintendent Demetrus Liggins has previous connections to the Texas audit firm. Liggins responded at Monday’s meeting that although Texas was his home state, he did not have ties to the audit firm.

“The only connection I have to this firm is I’ve read that they did an audit in a place where I was a principal after I left the district,” Liggins said. “That’s the extent of the connection I have. We’ve used this firm apparently before here in Fayette County for a technology audit. There didn’t seem to be an issue. “

Liggins said he did not know anyone from the firm.

Murphy said if the district spends money to conduct the audit, it does not mean that cost-cutting measures such as closing The Stables program will have to occur.

The audit will supplement a separate special examination by the Kentucky state auditor of financial trouble in the state’s second-largest district, Murphy said, not duplicate it.

“This decisive action underscores the board’s absolute commitment to fiscal stewardship and continuous improvement,” school board chairman Murphy said in a news release Monday night. “It also follows months of work to streamline district processes, strengthen supports for students, and reinforce accountability.

Murphy continued: “We have listened carefully to our community, and this is a necessary next step to strengthen public trust. Our responsibility is two-fold:

● To provide every child in our care with the opportunity and support they need to succeed.

● To ensure that our district operates with the highest levels of transparency and efficiency.”

Murphy said the review will follow the detailed scope developed by the district’s independent audit committee, made up of local financial experts.

At the school board’s request, the committee drafted the scope of work, solicited bids, and evaluated proposals before making its recommendation. No district staff or board members participated in that process to protect the full independence of the review, Murphy said.

The audit comes after several months of financial turmoil in the district, including a since-resolved projected budget shortfall and a dwindling contingency, or rainy day, fund. Several Republican lawmakers have called on FCPS Superintendent Demetrus Liggins to resign amid the budget issues.

The review will provide a deep-dive assessment of the district’s internal budget and financial controls, processes, and departmental operations, Murphy said. It will go beyond the scope of a standard compliance audit and will directly inform improvements aligned with the district’s strategic plan. The contract also provides an opportunity to conduct a forensic audit of any areas of concern identified.

The approval comes after Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball criticized the school board’s decision to pursue an audit of their own. She encouraged them to work in collaboration with her office to avoid duplication and ensure responsible use of taxpayer funds.

“We appreciate and respect Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball and the special examination her team has undertaken,” Murphy said Monday. “Our intent is for Weaver and Tidwell to augment Ball’s work — not to replace or duplicate efforts. And we remain committed to good faith collaboration and clear communication with them.”

On Sept. 8 and 16, the school board voted unanimously to “heed calls” for an independent investigation, with one already underway, Murphy said.

The Dec. 8 vote keeps the promise to commission a thorough, fact-based review that identifies specific, actionable improvements to strengthen financial systems, uncover any potential wrongdoing, and protect the critical investments that are driving the success of our students and staff, he said.

Weaver and Tidwell’s score was the highest of the nine applicants, according to agenda documents. The other applicants were Harshwal, Plante Moran, Carr Riggs Ingram, Berry Dunn, CLA, Dean Dorton, Cherry Bakaert, Forvis, according to previous agenda documents.

This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 7:21 PM.