JCPS (Jefferson County Public Schools) has been revealed to be suffering an immense budget deficit, which could not only just cause teachers to get little to no pay, but also causing a potential shut down for schools in the district. The JCPS Board of Education has been in the works of seeking immediate solutions to try and resolve the problematic and possible damaging financial situation that could impact student’s education here in the city; and could also lead to JCPS’ downfall. In articles discussing the falling budget, it states that JCPS is down $188,000,000 in the hole. What could be the reason that led to this predicament? What would it take to get our district back in good financial condition again?
One of the newer office clerks at Ballard High, Connie Fone, discusses her perspective about the JCPS deficit. She explains how this could affect her, other teachers and staff, and also the students here at Ballard and all over the district. Fone first expresses what she knows about the JCPS deficit. She says, “From what I understand, with the new superintendent they did an audit and there was a budget shortfall of over $1.2,000,000.” Fone states. There are obviously necessities that schools in this district need due to the budget constraints that are going on in JCPS. Fone talks about the two conditions that schools need. “I think the biggest need as far as where the money comes from, the need the most are the textbooks and the furniture.” She says.
Fone proceeds to discuss her occupation, and how this deficit could affect her job and how this affects other staff’s jobs. “Well I am what you call the ordering and receiving clerk.” Fone continues on. “So that means when something needs to be ordered, I order it and then once it comes here I have to mark it received once it gets paid.” This seems to be an important job that requires precise and high quality service for customers, but how could this profession connect to JCPS’ budget fall? It’s suspected that teachers and staff could potentially stop getting paid, which could cause major disadvantages to students all over Louisville. Although, this is a fearful theory, Fone doesn’t believe it would go that far, but she does think that this could affect potential possibilities for raises. Saying, “The only downfall to the budget, is not getting their salary raise.” Fone calls this a “budget freeze.” She also explains her opinion and perspective about if the JCPS board of education is making an efficient effort to solve this issue. Fone says “I think the administration is aware of the issue, they’re working with people to keep them from being overwhelmed.” She proceeds, “The thing about teachers is that they’re apart of a union, which means they’re all in one group that comes to an agreement with the ‘higher ups’.” She says. Fone also talked about how the district would reach out and will find out where the money could be mismanaged. Fone wraps up her perspective on the budget deficit by sharing her hopes for the future of people in the district and in her position. “I hope that they find new funding sources so there is no worry on whether we have money.” Fone concludes.
Since our district is over 100 million dollars in debt, what is the JCPS Board of Education planning to do about this problematic event? According to the official ‘Jefferson County Public Schools” website, the new superintendent, Dr. Bryan Yearwood speaks out on the possible proposition to help this chaotic financial event. According to ‘Jefferson County Public Schools’ website, Yearwood introduces the audience to updates to the deficit and explains what is currently going on, while he also expresses his motivating words about this challenging time for the district. He proceeds to discuss this issue more in depth, and how he and his team are planning to cut the majority of the money. On the official JCPS website, Yearwood states that the budget is currently $188 million down, and how he is planning to cut most of the money by reducing $132 million for the upcoming fiscal year. Yearwood discusses the prior causes on why this very vast financial fall has happened. Yearwood states that the causes of the immense financial meltdown were because of the one-time funding sources that JCPS could rely on, especially prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, those funds are no longer available so it makes conditions more financially challenging. Said by Yearwood. You can find the whole story on JCPS’ article “A Letter from the Superintendent.”
Another respected staff member here at Ballard High, Principal Jason Neuss speaks on his take on the JCPS deficit and how he thinks this could affect students, teachers and staff. He says “I know that there is a significant deficit over the next year or two, if changes were not made to current practices, processes and programs that they have in place.” He proceeds, “I don’t know all of the ins-and-outs as to how they got into this position, I believe some of it was the use of non recurring funds with recurring costs in some situations like staffing and things like that.” He states. Neuss continues to discuss his thoughts on whether this budget fall could impact teachers’ jobs, and who it could potentially impact the students. “My guess in what I’ve read is that they have, are looking at other options like contracts they have with different vendors whether or not it might be through like, textbooks, online programs, professional developments, things like that.” He continues, “and so looking at those types of things and cutting those programs first, because obviously we’re at a shortage of teachers, it’s hard enough to keep those teachers around so cutting pay would probably have an even greater impact on it which would ultimately impact students.” Neuss states.
Neuss talks about his personal primary concerns for the schools, and JCPS’ future that is determined by the efficiency of the budget deficit getting resolved, he shares his thoughts and what he thinks could happen if this situation is not addressed fully enough. “I think our ability to maintain some of the programs that we have right now, so like the Academies of Louisville, the different pathway classes, things like engineering, and nursing, and media arts, business.” Neuss proceeds to talk about how they require extra money. “They take extra money, some of it comes from outside sources of funding, outside of the state, like some of it’s federally funded, but we also from my end I have to supplement to make sure we have enough to continue to support those programs.” He continues, “so if my budget is cut, that means that I have to look at some of our programs and some of the places we’re spending money and try to either eliminate certain things or reduce the amount of money we spend on them.” Neuss says. He states that the biggest worry is that because of the vast cost of these programs, that it might affect this school’s ability to continue to give students the ability to take these special pathways. Neuss concludes saying that his hope for the district’s future relevance, by continuing to receive all the support possible for everything to be successful, for teachers and staffs’ and also for the students.
Due to these struggles, it has also been revealed that schools around the district have been planning to shut down schools in this district, According to WDRB, JCPS is considering shutting down schools as for, “Liberty High,” “Zachary Taylor Elementary,” relocating Waller-Williams Environmental to a facility existing in the Fairdale neighborhood, consolidating King Elementary and Maupin Elementary at its own building, and lastly, moving the Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program to the Gheens Early Childhood Center at Louisville Male High School. The source states that people who were attendants of these schools, were heartbroken and disappointed in the fact that the schools that have helped students achieve graduation are being shut down. It has also been said by some that there has been no clear communication from the district to teachers, or administration about choosing to make such a profound decision, expressing that they didn’t even give people the opportunity to share their voices about who this situation will affect and what their thoughts are. Folks have had very negative outlooks on this decision made by the district, stating that the inconsideration was preposterous. You can find all details on WDRB’s article, “JCPS recommends closing 2 schools, moving others as it faces $188 million budget shortfall,” released this month.
Although JCPS is suffering a massive downfall overtime with poor financial coverage for our district’s well-being, the hope for our district’s future is still up for success. With the help from the JCPS Board of Education, and their continuous effort to try and resolve this issue, the more focus and strategizing everyone can do as a team, the higher chance of an effective solution there will be. Until then, teachers, staff, and students all over Louisville should keep trying their very best to receive an education, and to try their best to help students exceed their educational standards.
