FCPS superintendent faced minor state sanctions earlier this year. It’s unclear why

Before Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Demetrus Liggins was suspended, the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board this year had required him to get training on a matter that was apparently unrelated to ongoing controversies in the district.

The EPSB is responsible for establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining and maintaining educator certification, and processing complaints of educator misconduct pursuant to state law.

Liggins was instructed in January to complete training due to an EPSB action, but minutes from the Jan. 5, 2026, EPSB meeting don’t say what the case was about.

The meeting documents only say “defer for training,” referring to the action taken on Liggins.

While the reason isn’t explicitly stated, one 2025 state investigation of the district made a requirement of Liggins.

The Kentucky Office of Education Accountability, in a Feb. 17, 2025, final investigative report, said it had investigated an allegation that the district had allowed a for-profit cheer and tumble business to use a district facility without following established district policies. The OEA found that the district was in violation of its own policies.

Liggins was told to demonstrate to the OEA that the policies regarding the use of district facilities were consistent.

The EPSB had taken other action against Liggins previously.

Documents the Herald-Leader obtained in May under the Kentucky Open Records Act show that in 2022, the Office of Education Accountability required Liggins and Chief Human Resources Officer Jennifer Dyar to complete two hours of training regarding proper hiring practices.

Additionally, the district had to immediately begin posting vacancies consistent with state law.

On April 10, 2023, the board voted to defer consideration of a case in order to offer him the opportunity to provide written proof of the OEA recommended training.

On Dec. 11, 2023, the EPSB voted to admonish Liggins for violation of state law. Specifically, they said he failed to post two classified positions for hire as required, documents show.

A representative for Liggins didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.

These incidents were all unrelated to current issues the district is dealing with, including a murky financial picture and Liggins’ paid leave. FCPS officials have not said specifically why Liggins is on leave or why his employment is being reviewed.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM.