Your help is CRITICAL to see JCPS gets the funding it needs!

 
On Thursday, May 21st, the Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) took a significant step towards investing in Kentucky's largest school system.  Board members say the action taken at Thursday's special meeting allows for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) to create educational equity for all students, build new facilities and further support teachers.
 
The latest move by the board includes the approval of a plan that will generate more than $50 million a year for the district.   The money would replace the $52.5 million in state funding that was reallocated since 2015 to other districts as a part of Kentucky's funding formula for schools.
 
JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio presented his vision for the district and how the resources could be used.  Right now the district has more than a billion dollars in unmet facility needs.  The additional funds will also give JCPS the capacity to renovate and build new state-of-the-art facilities that board members say will help enhance instruction.  
 
The funds could also help create a smooth transition to proposed changes in the student assignment plan.  A part of the proposed changes include giving students in West Louisville an option to attend school close to home or travel outside their community.  In order to do this, it would require the construction of two new middle schools ($64 million) and a new high school ($74 million) in West Louisville.
 
The additional revenue would also give JCPS the opportunity to:

• renovate four new magnet schools (est. $68 million);
• double the amount of school renovations per year ($50 million);
• Increase annual facility improvements ($12 million);
• renovate high school athletic facilities ($25 million);
• significantly improve educator pay to attract and keep the best teachers
• extend instructional time;
• and enhance leadership development.

 
It is urgent that JCTA members encourage their family and neighbors to support this initiative to help the students and schools of JCPS.  Share the info on your personal website or Facebook page and in your neighborhood app/website/Facebook page and ask others to do the same.  Remember the following as you are sharing:

• Currently, JCPS has a lower property tax rate than many surrounding counties and the district had not explored any other options for additional revenue in the past.  JCBE members authorized a property tax increase of 7 cents bringing the total tax rate to 80.6 cents for every $100 of assessed property value.  For a homeowner, that equals a $70 increase on taxes for a home assessed at $100,000.

• Jefferson County Public Schools is not receiving the same amount of funds as we did in previous years.  Since 2015, $52.5 million in revenue from the state has shifted to other districts. The responsibility and burden of making up this difference rests with us.

• JCPS has more than a billion dollars in facility needs and has more than 30 buildings that have end of life HVAC systems.  The last high school was built 50 years ago and that was Ballard High School where the football stadium was condemned in 2019 because it was no longer structurally sound.  Having innovative spaces that lead to forward thinking curriculum will only help our students better prepare for jobs of the future and continue to make Louisville the economic engine for the state and the region.  Fayette County has built 5 new schools and renovated 21 of their schools in the past 12 years. 

• We must ensure there is educational equity for all students and close the opportunity gap.  In order to do this we need additional resources for technology and increased instructional time to ensure our students have the tools to succeed.

• The impact on a homeowner with a $200,000 home is only about 38 cents per day.

When taxpayers invest in improving their neighborhood schools, they invest in improving their own property values.  This is a win-win for everyone!