Ava Williams, a junior at Central High School in Louisville, addresses the Efficient and Effective School Governance Task Force. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

LOUISVILLE — Several speakers, including Jefferson County Public Schools students, warned a legislative task force against breaking up Kentucky’s largest school district in a Tuesday evening meeting.?

However, the co-chairs of the Efficient and Effective School Governance Task Force said deciding to split the district, which serves almost 97,000 students, was not under its purview. Some Republicans in the legislature have called for studying whether the district is too big to be successfully managed.

The task force met at Central High School Tuesday evening. It was the first of two meetings the group will hold at a public school in Louisville. It typically meets in Frankfort at the Capitol Annex.?

“I fear that splitting up the district could jeopardize the unique experiences and support that Central provides their students,” said Ava Williams, a junior at Central High School. “Smaller districts may be faced with resource constraints that could limit access to specialized magnet programs, especially for students in disadvantaged areas like Central High School.”?

Williams told the committee that the magnet teaching and learning program she is in has provided her opportunities that she did not think she could have in another school district, such as touring Kentucky State University, an internship available only to students in her magnet program and sitting in on classes at the University of Louisville. Williams also spoke of support she’s had from her connections to teachers at Central.

Other speakers — including JCPS students, employees, parents and representatives of community groups, such as the local NAACP chapter and the Louisville Urban League — also warned against possible ramifications of dividing JCPS into smaller school districts. They instead argued for lawmakers to strengthen education resources through increased funding, citing the need for adequately supporting transportation and teacher pay.

The meeting lasted around 90 minutes and had more than two dozen speakers.

Would dividing JCPS sacrifice diversity? Republican lawmaker, school board member disagree

After a handful of community members addressed the task force, Co-chair Rep. Kim Banta, R-Ft.Mitchell said Co-chair Sen. Michael Names, R-Shepherdsville, asked her to reiterate that the task force would not determine splitting up the district.?

“He wanted me to say that we’re not talking about splitting up the district,” Banta said to jeers from the crowd.?

According to the House resolution that created the task force, the group must make any recommendations by Dec. 1 in a report to the Legislative Research Commission. The resolution also directs the task force to only review the governance of Kentucky school districts with more than 75,000 students. JCPS is the only district that meets that criteria.

Nemes told reporters after the meeting that he suspected no legislation could come from the task force next legislative session because of the amount of information the task force wants to review. While some of the lawmakers backing the initial House resolution may have wanted to see the district split, Nemes said that’s not the task force’s intention.?

“Out of this task force, we’re going to have recommendations, possibly, but mostly a good report,” Nemes said. “And yes, we may ask for more time to do things. Whether there be legislation or not … there may be some minor things, but we’re going to work with Jefferson County Public Schools on what can be done and what should be done.”?

Questions from the task force

Those signing up for public comment were prompted to answer two questions: “How would you like to see the district’s academic offerings, educational capabilities and operations improved?” and “How have these factors affected the enrollment decisions for your child?”?

Terrance Sullivan, the vice chair of the JCPS Advisory Council for Racial Equity, said told the task force that the questions “presupposed the fault on the district and don’t add any space or culpability of the legislature.”?

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfiled, told reporters after the meeting that she felt like speakers did answer the questions the task force posed, particularly about different programs and opportunities the district offers students. She added that she hoped the task force hears more community perspectives at its next meeting.?

In response to the issue of funding that some speakers brought up, Tichenor said the General Assembly approved additional funding for school transportation in its most recent two-year state budget.?

“I think the idea of ‘fully-funded’ never has an end,” Tichenor said. “It’s always a moving target, so when that gets brought up from the public, we never really have an answer of what ‘fully funding’ means.”?

Nemes added that teacher pensions are “now pretty much solvent” because of money the legislature has added to recent state budgets, as was reported at a Tuesday meeting of the Pension Oversight Board.

Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal, of Louisville, told reporters that “there’s no way to tell” if the task force has been effective in reviewing JCPS governance so far through the interim session. He also said that lawmakers behind the resolution had initially pushed for breaking up the school district.?

“The main message is we’re stronger together,” he said. “We’re stronger in uplifting all people.”