‘Stand up, fight back.’ Protesters decry Fayette County Public Schools layoffs

Chanting, “Stand up, fight back,” and “Pay cut, no thanks,” about a dozen people on Tuesday gathered near Fayette County Public Schools’ Central Office to protest layoffs amid district financial issues.

The job eliminations have affected an unknown number of FCPS employees. Those layoffs were preceded by FCPS Superintendent Demetrus Liggins announcing the district faces significant financial issues because of problems with the district’s accounting practices dating back to 2008. Liggins and interim Chief Financial Officer Kyna Koch said the issues have caused FCPS to have significantly less money than previously thought, prompting the layoffs.

“We just wanted to come out here and do a little popup protest,” said Nema Brewer, an organizer with KY 120 United AFT, an educators’ union. “We wanted to come out and just stand in solidarity. We don’t agree with what’s been going on or how it’s been handled.”

Brewer said her group is asking for a total number of those laid off and what positions they worked in so they can see if layoffs were conducted in an equitable way.

“I think that’s the biggest thing. We just want things to be fair,” Brewer said.

She said the protesters wanted district officials “to tell the truth and treat people better.”

“My number one reason for being here today is that the sustainability coordinator job in Fayette County Public Schools is being cut,” said Cardinal Valley Elementary science teacher Adonya Boyle, a member of KY 120. “And I have worked with the sustainability coordinator for 15 years, and she’s making big changes in our culture. Without her, we couldn’t get grants.”

Emily Morris, a member of the group Democratic Socialists of America, said she was supporting the teachers’ union “because we are asking for financial accountability from the district.”

Liggins has agreed to take a 10% pay cut as part of cost reductions, he told employees in a letter Tuesday night.

Koch says FCPS will seek a short-term loan to cover expenses.

“These cuts are going to have a big impact on instruction,” said retired teacher Mark Russell, who said he was there to support KY 120.

Who has been laid off in FCPS?

While FCPS has declined to share how many layoffs have occurred, several FCPS employees took to social media to say their job was eliminated or their work hours were cut.

Holly Brooks, an instructional resource technician for FCPS, previously told the Herald-Leader her entire team of five in the department of Library and Instructional Resources had their jobs cut.

“This will negatively affect our teachers and our students,” Brooks told the Herald-Leader last week.

Eight people in technology were also laid off, Brooks said. District officials haven’t confirmed how many people had their roles eliminated.

This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 6:24 PM.