Budget Solutions Work Group

A work group tasked with examining school district finances and making budgetary recommendations to the Fayette County Board of Education met for the first time on June 25, 2025, at the Hub for Innovative Learning and Leadership (The HILL).

The group includes 31 community members, parents, educators from preschool through higher education, business representatives, faith leaders, and students — each bringing a unique perspective to this critical work. A list of members is available here.

FCPS received more than 240 applications from individuals interested in serving on the panel. To ensure impartiality and fair representation across all six high school zones in Fayette County, a portion of the group was selected using an online randomizer. Additional members were nominated or selected by community organizations or peer groups to ensure a broad mix of voices and expertise.

All meetings of the Budget Solutions Work Group will be facilitated by Eastern Kentucky University Associate Professor and Millennium Learning Concepts President Roger Cleveland, who has expertise in leading community conversations. Cleveland opened the initial meeting by giving work group members the opportunity to introduce themselves and explaining the purpose and expectations for their work together.

Deputy Superintendent Houston Barber then provided an overview of the budget process, timeline, and tentative budget. Following his presentation, members asked questions about changes in revenue, the district contingency fund, future budget forecasts, grants, food service costs, federal funding, district office reductions, and school budgets. Other topics of conversation included the possibility of generating revenue through a virtual academy, school consolidation, or liquidating assets.

The larger committee then broke into small groups, to discuss the following questions:

• What is going around in your head about the presentation?
• What struck you most about the presentation?
• What three important points did you hear at your table?

Each group then shared their reflections for future inquiry, which included the impact of building new schools while other schools are not full, the district policy requiring a 6% contingency fund, the cost of food service, potential revenue opportunities, employee benefits, substitute teachers, living within your budget, and requests for additional information.

Most importantly, group members agreed, was placing a priority on students and ensuring they have the services and support they need to succeed.

• Applicants who were not selected to serve on the work group have been invited to an open conversation with Superintendent Liggins in the coming weeks. This session will provide another opportunity for meaningful input and dialogue.
• All meetings of the Budget Solutions Work Group are open to the public, and those in attendance will also have the opportunity to submit online questions and comments, which will be shared with the work group members. The group will meet again on July 15 and 29, at 5:30 p.m. at The Hub for Innovative Learning & Leadership (The HILL), located at 100 Midland Avenue.
• Meeting summaries will be emailed to all staff and families following each meeting and posted here.
• Review materials shared with members of the Budget Solutions Work Group here.
• Share questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns with the members of the Budget Solutions Work Group here.
• All meetings will be recorded and posted to the district YouTube channel (@FCPSKY) no later than close of business the next day.