[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6485964,"mediaKeyId","5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3","parentId",5518823,"title","Early‑childhood teachers urge board to accept MOA while pressing for planning time and workload protections","audioSeconds",242,"startMs",3117000,"endMs",3359000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3&start=3117&end=3359","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3/thumbnail_3117000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485964/Kentucky/Earlychildhood-teachers-urge-board-to-accept-MOA-while-pressing-for-planning-time-and-workload-protections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485964-8bc70a22daafc3eaeff01e15bd2f55ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202192&Signature=nmOuBiSEGVzUyR7QNTDyPSGBO8dCKyKQXqRxx2oG2SWJXWp8BoixrKtRPVwxcQdJGMmXoclZv5SfriMHjaNvVuAnHJJeGZNfbqjUIXdS7-KvcruEhRvXYROEGCv0ukaj0noPJD-RevsiQQrrPHcfVs2sEk6k1CHyPY5h~083zTPgpWUUqreG2rLmzhA0ByWZyJO8hsrlHGZaY47UF-InupJoCS8gewpqk8mpiCdvhiGtsiCA1plbRD7KFsw0-3iosT6F5vIH5KprpAXFEL6sVMosEuKmp8kRn9j7kzsfXyVwPVxc2gelYufb5WFTZZG1v8pT8~BjIjiLFqxZJ0NMtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-30T13:17:31Z","article","Early‑childhood teachers and the Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA) spoke at the July 29 meeting about a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) for early‑childhood staff. Speakers said they supported the MOA because it avoided a return to a contract arrangement that would pay teachers for seven hours while requiring 7½ hours of work, but they urged the board and district to address persistent workload issues during incoming contract negotiations.

Maddie Shepherd, president of the Jefferson County Teachers Association, welcomed the district's new superintendent and said JCTA wants to be a collaborative partner. Several early‑childhood teachers then spoke to the board in a single public comment block.

Speakers described the early‑childhood classroom as requiring both general‑education and special‑education responsibilities: conducting multiple assessments, writing IEPs, attending ARC meetings, mandatory home visits and parent conferences, and managing a range of student needs in a single classroom. They said the MOA avoids immediate pay inequity but does not solve the fundamental problem: limited, unstable planning time and increasing responsibilities without compensation.

Several teachers urged the board to treat planning time as protected time. One speaker recommended considering a four‑day student week with a full planning day as a structural option to ensure teachers have adequate time to complete required work. Others called attention to the inequity between early‑childhood teachers—who earn 400 minutes of planning every nine school days under the MOA—and K‑12 teachers who are guaranteed daily planning (about 500 minutes every two weeks), arguing that early‑childhood planning is easier to take away (for trainings, snow days or emergencies) and therefore not equitable.

Speakers asked board members and the superintendent to visit early‑childhood classrooms so board members can see the work performed there. They said the MOA was a \"bandage\" and urged that the next full contract negotiation include time, supports or compensation for the additional responsibilities early‑childhood teachers shoulder.

The board did not take a separate vote on the public comments but later approved consent items that included the MOA.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","JCBE Meeting – July 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Early‑childhood teachers urged the Jefferson County Board of Education July 29 to approve a temporary memorandum of agreement while pressing the district to secure protected planning time and compensation for growing duties.","taxTitle","Jefferson County, School Boards, Kentucky","taxId",14467,"location","Kentucky","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6485968,"JCPS outlines transportation preparations for 2025–26: driver hiring, Spanish CDL written tests and route scrimmages",241,2624000,2865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3&start=2624&end=2865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3/thumbnail_2624000.jpg","/articles/6485968/Kentucky/JCPS-outlines-transportation-preparations-for-202526-driver-hiring-Spanish-CDL-written-tests-and-route-scrimmages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485968-493380e3f4f89c84e3057b42ce4e1ed6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202192&Signature=IVCAG9jRpG9HyM2rDIvd7roL1rC8sr0IHZtfc9Y6BOwgt-2yjpiqpXmnVcQaBRVMMMsECW0Y-BUveBOePFTxz9cwtrKTM9T-KljTWTwhvxu9x2FB6mMRQg8x1Ez~qgeUPq5ryyXwCMYl9EKzPm~2NR5Q6jdPO4vd2SKRhQOFd~7Tii9yKQiQvap~n3-ziZs3zDYH7c3GlY0WmXoQwg0nWWV2ZdCU2gVRM~lPVDz-a3JYxNqKKdrFrOYcdLVvKxMh1inFjYPGgovwsxjqkCei-dMGLUf~MOzGXL20chGWOF5cG5sLnCah1pgwzUsmBQ-q3rx~rQ89lUPP~yoQZlqL5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jefferson County Public Schools operations staff gave the board a multi‑point update July 29 on transportation readiness for the 2025–26 school year, citing progress on driver recruitment, process improvements in routing, customer support metrics and operational scrimmages.

Transportation leadership reported 637 bus drivers on the roster, roughly 42 candidates currently in training, and ongoing recruitment. Staff said the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky State Police authorized the commercial driver license (CDL) written exam to be offered in Spanish; the district and its partners expect that change to expand the applicant pool. Operations staff emphasized that while the written exam may be offered in Spanish, the on‑road CDL skills test remains in English under federal rules.

Staff described improvements completed in routing over the last two years: a centralized routing team, a pause period with a 48‑hour driver adjustment window, and voluntary paid route testing days that about 51 percent of drivers used this cycle. The department is running three full route scrimmages before the first day of school and said principal and compound support materials (a \"principal manual\" for first‑day procedures) are in place.

Operations also reported on 485Ride, the parent/inquiry call center: 1,074 calls had been handled with an 83 percent same‑day resolution rate; 645 tickets had been submitted and resolved; and roughly 102 employees staff the operation. Staff said Edulog remains active this year while the district transitions to a new routing platform planned for full implementation in the 2026–27 school year.

Board members asked about heat accommodations, facilities and paving timelines, and the timeline to add Spanish‑language CDL test takers into service. Operations said water will be available as needed on bus runs and that most facility projects are on track though some turf fields and paving work may run past opening day due to summer rains.

No formal action was taken; the board voted to receive the operations report.","Operations staff told the board July 29 that JCPS continues to recruit drivers, will benefit from state authorization to offer the commercial driver written test in Spanish, and is conducting route scrimmages and other build‑out steps ahead of the first day of school.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6485972,"Board reviews Mackenzie Scott donation spending criteria; chair to propose MOU revision",764,725000,1489000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3&start=725&end=1489","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3/thumbnail_725000.jpg","/articles/6485972/Kentucky/Board-reviews-Mackenzie-Scott-donation-spending-criteria-chair-to-propose-MOU-revision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485972-2ef348c5b30c2ccef795d8aa9614214a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202192&Signature=VHukU3BgDYR9ybjrMC~eMEirDyGFYonhwDS5R7LTQTaorhNXyZt4m1V-pCHaD4QBikqI0-DAaZ~xXwuxvtNnjnD~ewp1U-mBgwM~m-rZyG7zvjQJhfPkdxTeWdqmPOjPrdYiaE0xP6H-Mud2sVEeJRhsWMJj3mm95hrDelWeS8Wa1643t9pOBDXN7fX~mXTkzQFz~~yrMEZLLAXZjeDohitNsAFAOO2SGkfIhm7RKolqIDgU~U9LSooRqaU2eqoGJOVuU2xxw8eiIL-yNwJ5qxgy-oiW31bb7swRqn0BNp5vESxskNXFqw9eB4OC1uIGxNIh3uwNDzkhoykP78a0gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jefferson County school officials updated the board July 29 on the district's use of the unrestricted donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and on draft supplemental spending criteria for the funds.

The district said the unrestricted $20 million donation was placed with the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation so the money could be invested under the foundation's investment policy. The district described two direct foundation commitments: $1 million in scholarships to be disbursed over five years and approximately $2.2 million (over three years) to Kentuckiana Works to support career academies. The district said approximately $600,000 per year (distributed semesterly) supports \"choice zone\" schools for engagement, environment and experiences; additionally, the district distributes a $25,000 allotment to each school each year from the supplemental funds for culture and climate purposes.

District staff presented a supplemental spending criteria document that states funds should be allocated for uses that promote student achievement, including direct student supports, employee allocations that benefit students directly, and districtwide activities with direct student benefit. Presenters said that of roughly $3.2 million in supplemental spending discussed at the meeting, about $3 million had gone directly to schools or students; the remainder supported culture and climate costs.

Board members pressed for clarity on several points: the current cash position and the fund's ongoing viability; whether the foundation retained a material portion of the gift in an endowment and how long the foundation intends to maintain invested funds; who developed the spending criteria; and whether the board would have oversight of the criteria. CFO remarks at the meeting indicated there are funds still invested at the foundation and that current available amounts exceed $15 million, but the presenters also said many commitments have been or will be drawn down over a short period (roughly 2½ years under current plans).

In response to board requests, the board asked staff to provide an executive summary of commitments and the MOU between the district and the foundation for board review. A later motion asked the chair to bring a proposed revision to the MOU to the consent agenda for the board's next full meeting; the board approved that motion.

No dollar figure was approved or changed at the meeting; board members said they wanted clearer documentation of planned commitments and clearer governance language governing future spending.","District and foundation officials described how the $20 million gift from MacKenzie Scott has been allocated and presented draft spending criteria; board members asked for the MOU and an executive summary of commitments and directed the chair to propose a revision to the memorandum of understanding.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6485977,"Jefferson County board hears detailed progress report on third‑grade reading and eighth‑grade math goals",824,2157000,2981000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3&start=2157&end=2981","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3/thumbnail_2157000.jpg","/articles/6485977/Kentucky/Jefferson-County-board-hears-detailed-progress-report-on-thirdgrade-reading-and-eighthgrade-math-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485977-35d2137f36332584f71d12f188af5db3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202192&Signature=KhJ2xrvWU8NLexZ4JaJ6ZF99vJAXfzhq0lvRhY1x0JvfYNWVlKCQzsoo3Q7AW7zzEJH1fVqEbSbl66FFJ3AaxVFN8Bgbe0kV~isSZ9g~BHXlNt3ZlgIH3JKYNJrfzGBI3y2AHWpIQ-d618TnRAEs5vxhYBi8LUsoADnUsW1aiKaQ9ZSu75Klzx-srh0B1nfWdFLnfLr77npbnB8JBhfzbYPUKbysbfjbbeVmy5tzk4~RoxSn43IslFJUxcEx6AKGZ~YxCM9huMMO0ehcoxhdmHAiDyjciUVk6oaiSh~qVYLnzYZO7rvgFZc1RdOx80O~VaVD95KiMKOgyto9xtP1bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District academic leaders presented the board July 29 with the district's strategy and recent data for two multi‑year student outcome goals: rising third‑grade literacy and improving eighth‑grade numeracy. The presentations outlined a theory of action emphasizing districtwide adoption of high‑quality instructional resources (HQIR), weekly teacher collaboration, formative assessment to guide regrouping, and targeted interventions for students who are not meeting growth targets.

For eighth‑grade numeracy (Goal 5), the district reported that 61 percent of students met or exceeded expected growth or achievement benchmarks on the spring MAP assessment in June 2024 and set a target to increase that to 76 percent by June 2030. District presenters said full implementation of HQIR for middle grades occurred this past year and highlighted strategies such as number‑sense routines, teacher observation \"look‑fors,\" and integrating culturally relevant, real‑world math. The presenters and board members noted persistent achievement gaps for some student groups and stressed the need for richer practice opportunities in classrooms and stronger data use to guide interventions.

On third‑grade literacy (Goal 4), the report reiterated the district's target to raise the percentage of third‑grade students meeting expected growth or the national 50th percentile from 66 percent in June 2024 to 81 percent by June 2030. District staff framed third grade as the transition from \"learning to read\" to \"reading to learn,\" and described a plan built on HQIR implementation, LETRS professional learning on the science of reading, a model skills‑block lesson for small‑group instruction, and tiered coaching for school leaders. Staff said district teams completed walkthroughs in nearly 100 percent of literacy classrooms last year and will move to a tiered system of support focused on schools' level of need.

Presenters listed community partners and programs that supplement district work: Elevate academic centers (two sites, with a third planned), the JCPS Success League (summer programs used by nearly 10,000 students last year), and community tutoring partners called HUG (Help Us Grow), I Would Rather Be Reading, and Sowing Seeds with Faith. Staff said the district will emphasize family engagement components embedded in school literacy plans.

Board members pressed staff on several points: why year‑to‑year percentages can decline even while students grow; whether cohort tracking (following the same students across years) is being shown; how often students are regrouped and how implementation fidelity is monitored; whether teacher experience and incentives affect outcomes; and how the growth targets will be accelerated sooner than a multi‑year horizon. Staff responded that the published rates are weighted averages of different cohorts, that the district uses \"vital signs\" and grade‑stacked analyses to follow cohorts internally, and that weekly PLCs, unit unpacking, observation feedback, and coaching are central levers to reduce variability across classrooms.

Several board members urged clearer public communications about why third grade is a critical benchmark, and asked for differentiated reporting—such as excluding multilingual learners in a separate analysis or otherwise disaggregating results—to help interpret trends. Staff said data can be parsed and that interim metrics exist in lower grades to track cohorts more frequently.

No formal vote was taken on the goals themselves during the meeting, but members asked the district to return with cohort‑level evidence and implementation checkpoints at the start of the school year.","District staff told the board July 29 that implementation of common curricula and targeted interventions are under way to raise third‑grade literacy and eighth‑grade numeracy; board members pressed for clearer cohort tracking, faster acceleration and protections for implementation fidelity.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6485982,"Jefferson County school board orders two‑year outside financial audit, authorizes RFP",26,2014000,2040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3&start=2014&end=2040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518823-4fbe7fdfa4e40889a631d0508eaaa2a3/thumbnail_2014000.jpg","/articles/6485982/Kentucky/Jefferson-County-school-board-orders-twoyear-outside-financial-audit-authorizes-RFP","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485982-19db8b70d02df83b93892a66f2bc2d64/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202192&Signature=TfMnR62pkHbQflKLLIaV2iAOo75NNjRJAKtbEkupUSauSgc3sZfxBdIKaO8bLJXJrYnYMAd34AbktcZHDKmW3yk79n035aGF24kE2OGANIEccAbaVnUo99K41rOqZjuuMgOnEyJPkmXk5zRWAutOdQI9xlSCGO-8QR5cwskXTsUwpgSJDZkPYHPBpvJsy~YhnEkfNCEu~TR5AZdsvxnfa9Pqiz5k3gzm79tDPscV8RhEKfGwe4KGF~L8sxM2xfeUw8MaTkcIUXH1--hG4GpAhggjuzcHT7wODOfPiOox39pljvOcptKfbSOuIPHMUxHNhAoie0tEHxEBlgi262NuFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jefferson County Board of Education voted July 29 to authorize an outside audit of the district's finances and expenditures covering a two‑year period, and to direct staff to procure a qualified accounting firm through a board‑authorized request for proposals. Board counsel was asked to review procurement rules to determine whether the current audit firm could be excluded from the solicitation.

Board member Craig moved the audit authorization and the motion was seconded; the board approved the measure by voice vote. The motion directs the RFP to include additional parameters for the audit, which the board said will be specified in the solicitation.

The motion came during a period of transition: the district's new superintendent, Dr. Yearwood, said he was in his first month on the job and had been reviewing district operations as part of his onboarding. Board members framed the audit as standard practice when a new leader assumes responsibility and as a way to give the board independent assurance about financial management.

No dollar amount for the audit was discussed during the board motion, and the board did not name a preferred firm. Board counsel was asked to advise whether the procurement code allows exclusion of the incumbent audit contractor from the RFP.

The vote authorizing the RFP was recorded at the meeting; individual roll‑call tallies were not read into the audio record.","The Jefferson County Board of Education voted to authorize an external audit of district finances and expenditures for a two‑year period and to issue a request for proposals to procure a qualified accounting firm, the board said July 29.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Early‑childhood teachers urge board to accept MOA while pressing for planning time and workload protections

JCPS outlines transportation preparations for 2025–26: driver hiring, Spanish CDL written tests and route scrimmages

Board reviews Mackenzie Scott donation spending criteria; chair to propose MOU revision

Jefferson County board hears detailed progress report on third‑grade reading and eighth‑grade math goals

Jefferson County school board orders two‑year outside financial audit, authorizes RFP