Louisville, KY (WHAS11) - It's not often that speakers get up to the podium and have nothing but nice things to say about the board's decisions and the superintendent. But, it happened tonight.
Parents, teachers, and principals are standing up for Jefferson County Public Schools. Just days before a year-long state audit is set to be released.
The auditorium was packed at the Youth Performing Arts School for the school board meeting. A number of speakers signed up to speak their mind during the public comment period, and they appeared to be unified in their message.
When this board unanimously elected Dr. Pollio to be the leader of JCPS, the response from this community's stakeholders of Jefferson County was strongly supportive of Dr. Pollio's leadership. I speak tonight representing the voices of 150 principals. 150 leaders of school communities. And Dr. Pollio is the leader we want to follow. - Julie Cummings, Eisenhower Elementary School Principal
Kentucky's interim Education Commissioner, Wayne Lewis, will be touring JCPS schools before he makes a recommendation for the district, which could be a state takeover. But, tonight's speakers want him to know that is not what they want.
We support the board's decision to name Dr. Pollio as our superintendent and we have tremendous confidence in his leadership. He is makeing the right decisions to improve all of our schools. We believe parents and educations need to be involved in local school decision making. Not silenced by Frankfort.
Although most were against the take over at tonight's meeting, religious leaders actually called for a takeover today and said it would benefit the district.
Lewis is set to arrive in Louisville Wednesday morning.