LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) - Accept or appeal- it's a decision the JCPS Board has to make Tuesday night. Will the state suggested takeover become a reality?
It's a question that's been top of mind for months now, and Tuesday’s meeting will bring some clarity to the district's future.
WHAS11 talked with longtime board member Linda Duncan Tuesday morning. She said she's anxious about the vote, but also very ready to move forward and fight the recommended takeover. While she can't speak for the rest of the board, Duncan feels confident they'll work together to do what's best for the district.
It's been a long road for JCPS. Factors like failing test scores led to a state audit which led to Interim State Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis recommending a state takeover. JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio would still be in charge as a day to day manager, but the board would be stripped of its power.
"It's the root of democracy. People are offended that that would be brushed aside, and I'm not even sure legally how it can be brushed aside- how can you take elected board members and take authority away from elected board members,” District 5 JCPS Board Member Linda Duncan said.
The district making headlines is nothing new, but Duncan calls much of the information distorted and disappointing.
"We've had the story told by others about us, but I think I'm anxious for our people and our staff to tell our story to the state school board,” Duncan said.
That would happen at a hearing if the school board appeals the recommendation, which is something Duncan expects to happen. In her 12 years on the board, Duncan said she's never felt more excited or hopeful about the district's potential.
"We know things are not perfect, and we are doing the best we can to improve in the areas that have been pointed out to us, but that takes a lot of work, a lot of organization, and Dr. Pollio has given us the leadership to do that,” Duncan said.
Duncan calls this a historic time for JCPS and a chance for the board to push for a bright future.
"I believe that this is an issue about local control, and I think people expect us to fight for local control,” Duncan said.
If the board does vote to appeal the takeover, Duncan said it has to wait 20 days before the hearing with the state school board can be scheduled. A hearing officer would get appointed and decide how much time the board gets to present its case, the meeting date, and ultimately the outcome.
WHAS11 also talked to Brent McKim, the president of the Jefferson County Teacher's Association, Tuesday afternoon. Like many, he's expecting the school board to appeal the recommended state takeover. McKim said if the past is any indication, this power shift is not the answer.
"We've asked other teachers associations across the country, and we can't find a single example of where a state takeover has worked. It's been a disaster in Detroit. They've had all kinds of problems in other places. In Michigan, in the first two years of the state takeover, they had more than half of their teachers leave. So, it's not a solution to the problem. It's much more likely to make it worse,” McKim said.
McKim said he still has a hard time grasping why this recommendation is happening in the first place.
"They have no plan except to put Marty Pollio in charge, and he's already in charge. They've been very positive about the steps he's taking to address the issues,” McKim said.
McKim is quick to admit those problems and welcomes the help, just not total control.
"Why not work with us as a partner instead of creating this sort of hostile takeover environment?" McKim said.
If the appeal goes through and a hearing happens, McKim is hopeful the state will listen to the many voices of support for JCPS coming from parents, leaders, and other organizations around the community.
►Contact reporter Sara Wagner at swagner@WHAS11.com. Follow her on Twitter (@WHAS11Sara) and Facebook.