Latest for FCPS: Superintendent stays, elementary rezoning, legislation affects board chair

Fayette County Public Schools continues dealing with fallout from budget issues, but several other key pieces of news have emerged from Kentucky’s second-biggest school district: FCPS’ top leader has pulled out of the contest for another job, legislators have passed a bill that would make the local school board chair ineligible to run again, and school officials are redistricting for a new elementary school.

Here are key things to know from FCPS:

• Two key pieces of news have developed around the upcoming election for Board of Education Chair Tyler Murphy’s seat. Wednesday night, legislators passed a bill that would make him ineligible to run, as the legislation says school employees who work more than 100 days in a year can’t also be on the board of education for large school districts. Murphy is a teacher in Boyle County. Gov. Andy Beshear could veto the legislation, but hasn’t indicated his plans, and even if he does, Kentucky’s lawmakers could override his veto.

• Additionally, someone has filed to run for Murphy’s seat. R.J. Hijalda, a 29-year-old swim coach and cafe lead, filed Tuesday to run for the second district school board seat. Murphy previously said he planned to run again but hasn’t filed for reelection.

• Superintendent Demetrus Liggins, named a finalist for a superintendent job in Missouri’s Hazelwood School District, withdrew his application. District spokesperson Miranda Scully said community support “reaffirmed that his heart and work remain in Fayette County.”

• Hourly employees in FCPS are worried about having their work days cut soon as FCPS weighs cost-saving measures. Several potentially-affected employees, including state Rep. Adrielle Camuel, voiced fears at a board meeting about a discussed recommendation to cut five work days for 12-month hourly staff, a move that could save $2 million. Liggins said no final decisions have been made.

• Some Lexington families are likely to have new school assignments soon. The district is redistricting some elementary school zones ahead of the fall 2027 opening of Helen Caise Wade Elementary on Greendale Road, which has a capacity of 750 students. A public meeting was scheduled for April 2 so residents could give input.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.