Fayette school board asked for community input. Now they should listen to it | Opinion
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Community workgroup proposed nine budget fixes without cutting classrooms.
- Top recommendation uses contingency funds to close the shortfall immediately.
- Board urged to honor input and avoid third tax hike in eight years.
The community has spoken. The question now is whether the Fayette County Public Schools board will listen.
Over three meetings, a 31-member Budget Solutions Workgroup — made up of a pastor, a student, a doctor, a teacher’s union leader, parents, business leaders and other community representatives — volunteered its time to address the district’s budget shortfall.
This was a process FCPS itself created, with members FCPS selected, working from data FCPS provided. After careful review, the workgroup identified nine recommendations to close the budget gap — without raising taxes and without cutting classroom resources.
The group’s strongest recommendations include:
- Using a portion of the district’s contingency funds
- Reducing administrative costs
- Cutting certain maintenance expenses
- Pursuing public–private partnerships
None of these proposals would reduce instructional quality, hinder student success, or diminish what happens inside the classroom. In fact, the very first recommendation — using part of the contingency fund — would fully resolve the immediate shortfall. Yet, some in the district have dismissed this option without offering a clear explanation.
The truth is, we can’t simply tax our way out of this. If the proposed occupational license tax increase passes, it would mark the third tax hike in eight years — on top of the automatic revenue growth from rising property values.
We are deeply committed to public education. We served as school board members and entrusted our own children to Fayette County public schools. Good governance means neither undermining the system at every turn nor rubber-stamping every proposal without question. It means asking tough but fair questions, protecting taxpayer dollars and safeguarding what matters most — our children.
The board agreed to let the community dig into the numbers. It should now respect that work by revisiting its earlier decision and seriously considering the short-term use of a small portion of the contingency fund, paired with a longer-term plan to improve efficiency and align resources.
If the board follows this balanced approach, our schools, our community and our children will be in a stronger position for the future.
Bacon, Daniels, and Spires are former members of the Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education.