Whatever happened to potential retaliation investigation of FCPS superintendent?

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A little more than three months ago, the budget director for Fayette County Public Schools filed a lawsuit, claiming she was put on leave in retaliation for raising alarms about financial problems in the district.

The suit, filed Sept. 10 by Ann Sampson-Grimes, is ongoing.

But the Fayette County School Board vowed to look into the claims, too. Later in September, board chair Tyler Murphy told Sampson-Grimes the district had hired Leigh Latherow of the VanAntwerp law firm in Ashland to conduct an independent investigation.

So whatever happened to that investigation?

As of mid-December, it was unclear. The Herald-Leader’s request for the report and other related documents was denied Dec. 15. The district said the investigation was ongoing.

The fight began when Sampson-Grimes claimed in an Aug. 27 letter she was put on leave by Superintendent Demetrus Liggins in retaliation for repeatedly warning district officials of the need for budget cuts in the financially challenged district.

Sampson-Grimes’ lawyer, Brandon Voelker, has said his client was a “scapegoat” for the district’s budget woes.

In a letter sent to Murphy, Voelker wrote that each time Sampson-Grimes advised that budget cuts must be enforced, her peers and superiors pushed back on her suggestions. They claimed she was incorrect or flat-out ignored her advice, Voelker wrote. He described her leave as discriminatory and retaliatory.

On Dec. 10, the district’s open records office said in an email to the Herald-Leader it was “still in the process of collecting records and is behind. An extension until Dec. 17 or sooner is needed for us to respond. We apologize for the delay.”

Then, on Dec. 15, the Herald-Leader received another email that read: “In response to your request, this investigation is ongoing, and therefore records are preliminary. ... They will remain preliminary until the investigation is complete.”

Sampson-Grimes was on administrative leave from Aug. 15 to Sept. 25, until she eventually returned to her position.

In her lawsuit, she accused Liggins of “gross intentional conduct meant to punish” her and prevent her from “lawfully reporting potential mismanagement and/or waste of FCPS funds.”

This story was originally published December 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM.