City council candidate criticizes snow removal as FCPS cancels classes Monday

Citing “continuing weather and road conditions,” Fayette County Public Schools has canceled classes Monday, Feb. 2.

The traditional snow day marks the sixth consecutive school day the district has not held in-person classes. The district had virtual classes four of the five days last week.

Weather fallout continues after Winter Storm Fern dropped several inches of snow and heavy ice across Central Kentucky on Jan. 24 and 25.

Lexington’s temperatures have remained below freezing since the storm, and they are not expected to reach 40 degrees this coming week.

More light snow accumulation and potential winter mix is possible Tuesday.

Meanwhile, at least one candidate for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council expressed frustration about snow removal in the city.

The candidate’s comments come after city and school district officials in January 2025 acknowledged a lack of communication about clearing priority bus routes in the district amid mounting parent frustration.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and Fayette Schools Superintendent Demetrus Liggins vowed in a joint statement they would be better prepared for future snowstorms after several inches of snow caused winter break to stretch for nearly a month in Fayette County Schools. Students in Lexington remained remote for several days after other area districts returned to in-person classes.

Several other Central Kentucky school districts, including Scott County, have also canceled classes Monday.

Council candidate criticizes city removing snow for FCPS

Richard Moloney, a former city councilman now running for the 11th District council seat, drew 241 comments — mostly supportive — on a Facebook post criticizing the city for plowing snow in school parking lots.

“I was out checking in on our most vulnerable citizens of our community and saw city crews plowing a school parking lot during work hours, even though the school has funds allocated for its own snow removal,” Moloney wrote. “At a time when many neighborhood streets in District 11 still need attention, this raises real concerns about how city resources are being prioritized.

“Our first responsibility should be making sure public streets are safe and accessible for residents. Taxpayer-funded equipment and personnel should be focused on the needs of the broader community, especially after a storm.”

Susan Straub, spokesperson for Mayor Gorton, confirmed the city was helping the district with snow removal, as planned.

“One of our crews did respond to a request for help from Fayette County Schools, a community partner that is in need and is important to all of us. For their trouble, they earned a cheap, political online attack,” Gorton said in a statement.

Gorton also said Saturday the city will revise its snow plan to cover ice storms.

FCPS spokesperson Miranda Scully did not immediately address Moloney’s comments that the school district has funds set aside for snow removal.

Moloney told the Herald-Leader he spotted the city plow truck at Dunbar High School.

“My understanding has always been that the city’s snow and ice removal plan prioritizes public roadways, emergency routes, and critical infrastructure. I have never seen, nor am I aware of, language in the LFUCG snow removal plan that includes school district property as part of that responsibility,” he said.

Moloney is running against political newcomer Cassandra Vogl, who has worked at the Bluegrass Area Development District as an aging and disability resource coordinator and also in criminal defense, according to her website.

The 11th District, which includes the Distillery District and neighborhoods in the Versailles Road corridor, is currently represented by Jennifer Reynolds, who is not running for a fifth term.

Popular Lexington educator, comedian on conditions

Gerry Brooks, the former principal at Lexington’s Liberty Elementary School and nationally known for his comedic YouTube videos about school life, posted on social media explaining why he thought students should not attend in-person school given current road and weather conditions.

In an interview Sunday with the Herald-Leader, he elaborated that students in Lexington are “unprepared for extremely cold weather.”

“They might have jackets for playing at recess in 40 degrees, but when the temperatures drop into the teens, they don’t have warm weather clothing to stand outside for 20 minutes waiting for a bus,” Brooks said. “The entire city is struggling to get the roads cleared, including the school systems.

“Bus lanes and car rider lanes at the schools are still covered with 2 to 3 inches and ice and while custodial staff and district staff have been working for six days to get things cleared, many schools still have unsafe parking lots and many neighborhoods still have streets that are unsafe for both buses and cars.”

Herald-Leader staff writer Beth Musgrave contributed to this report.

This story was originally published February 1, 2026 at 2:12 PM.