Fayette school employees announce they were laid off, some looking for new jobs

Some Fayette County Public Schools employees announced on social media Tuesday that they were being laid off or their work days were being cut.

The announcements came out within days of FCPS Superintendent Demetrus Liggins announcing the district faces significant financial issues because of problems with the district’s accounting practices dating back to 2008.

At least three employees posted to social media to say they were impacted, including one who said they received “really hard news,” prompting hundreds of people to respond with expressions of support. Some said they were looking for new jobs.

The three declined to make further comments to the Herald-Leader, and didn’t say what positions they worked in.

FCPS officials won’t say how many employees will be affected by reductions. But school officials said the cuts, which includes elimination of positions at the district level and cuts to number of days worked, will generate $1.9 million in savings for the cash-strapped district.

The district announced Monday two types of cuts for the district’s more than 8,000 full and part-time employees. Employees with 12-month contracts, or 10.5-month hourly contracts, as well as those in child nutrition, librarians and law enforcement will have cuts to the number of calendar days worked.

Laura Hartke, an organizer with KY United 120 AFT, an educators’ union, shared a letter with the Herald-Leader that showed a media librarian had their hours cut. The letter said the employee, who was not identified, was have their work days reduced from 206 to 199 for the 2026-27 school year.

“Your salary for the 2026-2027 school year will be correspondingly reduced,” the letter said.