So many questions about Fayette schools spending. So few answers | Opinion
FCPS concerns
If I was a taxpaying citizen with legitimate concerns about Fayette County Public Schools, I would have some questions about how they are operating.
I would wonder why we can’t anticipate tax revenue when we have historical data that goes back decades. I would also ask why it’s a good use of taxpayer dollars to send the board on a trip to learn about playing nice. Actually, it would be more efficient to shove $10k in each of their pockets and tell them to get along. I would wonder about ice cream, and vehicle allowances, and vacations to Houston and Atlanta. I would ask myself “how did we get to this situation?”
I would wonder how soooo many teachers work their tails off only to be burdened by more testing, standards, and continuing education requirements. I would wonder why our school system is more worried about outcome than opportunity. I would be really brave and wonder why parents aren’t held accountable too.
If I were a taxpaying citizen with legitimate concerns, I would have questions. Unfortunately, I’m just a tax paying citizen.
We keep sending our kids to Caesar and we are surprised when they come back Romans. All hail Demetrus!
Gary Lee, Lexington
FCPS travel
After reading the $46,000 itemized list of conference travel the Fayette County Public Schools superintendent intends to pay for, I can only conclude that this administration is seriously corrupt. No tax increase should be enacted until they are replaced. Over $3,000 for a single person to attend a conference in Louisville. LOUISVILLE? I also am in a field that requires professional development to maintain certifications and would not dream of asking an employer to spend anything remotely in that range, especially at a time when attending conferences virtually is so easy. And why are so many employees taking the much more expensive “Uber Black” rideshares rather than the normal price range?
This administration is taking folks for a ride. Money should be used for staff salaries, not for luxury travel for administrators.
Eli Fels-McDowell, Lexington
Historic preservation
There it sits at the corner of Maxwell Street and Lexington Avenue, where it has for over 150 years. It’s the original brick house in that area, surrounded by an iron fence which survived the Civil War. The entry is marble and solid wood. Inside you will find a cantilever staircase (one of only a few in the area), walnut sliding doors hidden inside drywall (code requirement), marble fireplaces, solid wood floors, original glass cabinets and more.
The building is three stories and six units. Code enforcement wouldn’t permit 13 units. But suddenly eight stories and dozens of units will be okay. You see, the City of Lexington thinks it’s okay to suddenly build an eight-story building in an area where nothing higher than four stories was permitted before.
It seems in order to preserve anything of historic value in Lexington (unless you are a horse farm), we must either get historic zoning or go the Bluegrass Trust route — both of which are super expensive for property owners — because the powers that be seem to not care about ambience and history, but only about developers and UK.
Cathy Chatfield, Lexington
Kroger Field noise
In response to the multiple articles recently published about the University of Kentucky hosting more events at Kroger Field -UK should remember that thousands of Lexington residents live a stone’s throw from the stadium. It is literally bordered on all sides by residential neighborhoods. UK needs to take into account the noise and disruption that filling a 60,000-seat outdoor stadium with live music causes for those taxpayers who live in this area.
Doug Reed, Lexington
Legacy coal plants
I attended the Public Service Commission’s hearing that considered KU and LG&E’s request to build two new gas-powered utility plants costing $2.6 billion, plus allow two coal plants to stay operating beyond their scheduled retirement.
The need for these fossil-fuel plants? To provide electricity for power-hungry AI data centers that may be coming to Kentucky.
I saw democracy in action as about 20 people spoke eloquently against the proposal citing reasons like rate increases; severe environmental impact as our planet is already heating up; opposition to data centers that usurp large tracts of farmland, electricity and water, but provide few permanent jobs.
How astounding that Kentucky is even considering two fossil fuel plants in this era of climate change! (One speaker said the climate now is on steroids!)
When over half of the country’s energy is now being provided by sustainable sources, why is Kentucky so far behind? Why aren’t our utility companies proposing sustainable solar energy plants?
It’s also disturbing that the mayors’ offices of Lexington and Louisville said they wouldn’t stand in the way of the utilities’ proposal! There is still time to protest. Email psc.comment@ky.gov, and refer to Case No. 2025-00045.
Jeanette Coufal, Lexington
Offensive labels
I was under the impression that using the word “boy” to address an African American male was inappropriate and offensive to the individual. I have been shocked to see one of the Republican candidates for Senate, Nate Morris, as he refers to Mitch McConnell’s “boys,” when one of the candidates is an African American, apparently having no idea of the inference.
Compounding my surprise is the seeming lack of concern by the candidate, Daniel Cameron, a target of the ad.
What am I missing? Perhaps it has gotten to the point that no one, including the candidates, pays attention to the advertising. Or is it possible that the once unacceptable is now acceptable?
Charles Myers, Lexington
Taxation Without Representation
President Donald Trump told the National Archives that he wanted a copy of the Declaration of Independence to put on the wall of the Oval Office. If he actually read it, he would notice that one of the grievances was, “For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.”
This was directed at King George III, the King of England at that time. Today, it applies equally to a wanna-be king. Trump’s tariffs are a massive sales tax imposed on every American citizen on a whim, without any approval by our representatives in Congress.
Disturbingly, Trump seems to be getting senile, as he also keeps making the delusional claim that tariffs are paid by foreign governments. That is absolutely not true. Tariffs are paid by the company importing the goods into the United States. The importer, for instance Walmart, then raises the purchase price of the item to cover the cost of the tariffs. Ergo, the Trump tariffs are just a massive sales tax on the average American consumer.
All so Trump can give a big tax cut to his rich supporters.
Kevin Kline, Lexington
Ukraine War
Regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine – President Donald Trump wants a deal? You don’t make a deal with someone who ordered the bombing of a sovereign country with the intent to overtake as much land as possible.
When dealing with an aggressor, we must stop the fight, separate the parties, and set consequences for the aggressor.
There is no deal to be made. There are consequences to be had.
Susan Culver, Lexington
TACO Diplomacy
President Donald Trump’s TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) diplomacy was in full effect with his hosting of war criminal and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He rolled over so Putin could rub his belly and call him a good boy. Finally, his idol petted his ego. It was obvious from Putin’s speech that Russia had gained concessions, while Ukraine was being thrown to the wolves. After Putin’s veiled threats about how near Russia is to the US, I guess Trump decided to give him the Donbas (and later Alaska?).
People should take note of Trump’s trial runs of martial law in L.A. and D.C. He wants us to get use to the idea of troops on our streets, so you won’t be surprised when they show up in a town near you.
He says he won’t run in 2028, but remember, he promised the evangelicals that if they voted for him, they would never need to vote again. Thanks to loyalists (not patriots) in Texas and other red states, none of us may ever vote for president again.
Glenna Brouse, Lexington
Gerrymandering Texas
What’s happening in Texas today is a prime example of politicians rigging the system to keep their party in power. Instead of voters choosing representatives, lawmakers are carving up districts to protect themselves and silence their opponents.
This isn’t democracy — it’s manipulation. Mid-decade redistricting is a power grab; an admission that one party doesn’t trust the people. By twisting maps to guarantee outcomes, they’re saying they’d rather pick their voters than earn their votes.
Texas has a long history of bending the rules, but this round threatens to disenfranchise millions, especially Latino and Black communities whose voices are already underrepresented. The goal isn’t fair representation. It’s permanent control.
But there’s another way. States like Michigan, Colorado, and California now use independent redistricting commissions. These panels take the power away from partisans and create competitive districts where candidates must win the trust of voters — not just their party leaders.
That’s what democracy should be about – “We the People.” Those words were never meant to serve one party. They mean all of us—choosing leaders who represent citizens, not political machines. If our future is to be truly democratic, it must be built on fair maps and fair votes.
William Brown, Union
Breaking the law
It seems that Supreme Court Justice John Roberts is party to President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the U.S. Constitution. If I’m wrong, why is Roberts empowering Trump to break the law?
Why is Roberts allowing: Federal military invasion of L.A. and D.C.; January 6 felons to terrorize immigrants as armed ICE agents; DHS to forgo privacy and due process rights; and Trump administration officials to profit from private detention camps?
Why is it okay for Trump to: arrest U.S. citizens and legal residents without cause; brutalize tax-paying immigrant families; detain human beings in inhumane contexts; and forbid inspection of detention facilities by Democratic Congress members?
Why is Roberts supporting Trump’s betrayal of our allies and blatant alignment with Putin, an enemy of the United States, an enemy of democracy, and a heinous war criminal? Why would Roberts speak out about the “rule of law” being “endangered” yet remain silent about Trump’s treasonous crime?
Roberts has no right to speak out about lawlessness when he is actively enabling the most heinous crime in U.S. history. He has the responsibility to stop these atrocious Constitution violations. Roberts needs to keep his oath and stop the nightmare NOW. He is without excuse!
Beverly C. Johnson-Miller, Lexington
Edited by Liz Carey