Fayette deputy superintendent is retiring, says it’s not related to critical report

Fayette County Deputy Superintendent Houston Barber announced Wednesday he is retiring, and said the decision was not related to a report that found he was among staff who failed to act strongly enough to address significant budget issues within Fayette County Public Schools.

Barber’s retirement will be effective in September, and he will continue as deputy superintendent until then.

Barber, who supervised two key budget planners within the district, was named last week in an investigation report from an external law firm last week that accused him of “deficient performance and failure to fulfill responsibilities” while FCPS faced a $16 million budget deficit.

“My decision to retire was a personal one and is not related to the report. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead and serve Fayette County Public Schools,” Barber told the Herald-Leader Wednesday night.

FCPS spokesperson Miranda Scully commended Barber’s “28 years of service across the Commonwealth.”

“Throughout his career, Dr. Barber has worked alongside educators, school leaders, and communities to strengthen public schools and support opportunities for students. His leadership has been grounded in a commitment to building strong teams, investing in people, and keeping students at the center of decision-making,” she said.

Scully said FCPS was “grateful for the experience and leadership” Barber brought.

Scully said in the days to come, FCPS will begin the process of posting an opening for a permanent chief financial officer position. Former city finance commissioner Kyna Koch, who has helped the district in the past when it had budget problems, started work in the interim position this week.

“Superintendent (Demetrus) Liggins continues to review district staffing structures and operational practices to ensure Fayette County Public Schools remains financially strong and operating at the highest levels of performance,” Scully said.

Investigations and discussions about FCPS’ budget issues began last year when FCPS officials shared they had a projected $16 million budget shortfall, and a contingency fund that was expected to be big enough to fill that gap actually held much less money than expected.

Liggins, who in a separate investigation was found to have violated district policy and board governance by not having enough direct involvement in the process, says the budget is now balanced.

Liggins said Monday that he and the board were committed to making improvements after significant discussion about the investigations.

Barber, superintendent of Frankfort Independent Schools before coming to FCPS in 2022, was described in the investigation report as failing to “adequately investigate, anticipate, or implement necessary financial adjustments to ensure compliance with FCPS’s Contingency Fund procedures, particularly in light of known pressures and the substantial reduction in the District’s Beginning Balance at the close of (fiscal year) 2024.”

The law firm of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan and Jackstadt, in Missouri, did the investigation. The firm found there was unauthorized use of the district’s contingency — or rainy day — fund, which resulted from breakdowns in communication among senior personnel and repeated failures to timely identify and address emerging budget deficits. Barber was among those senior personnel.

When Barber took the deputy superintendent job in 2022, he had more than 20 years of experience as an educator, having served as a high school science teacher in Oldham County and Jefferson County, assistant principal and principal in Jefferson County, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Louisville, Bellarmine University and University of the Cumberlands, according to FCPS.

He had worked in Frankfort Independent Schools for seven years before joining FCPS, district officials said previously.