Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education voted 5-0 to put Superintendent Demetrus Liggins on paid leave.
The meeting was called after Board Chair Tyler Murphy received an email from Liggins requesting a separation agreement between himself and the Board. FCPS announced that Liggins resigned, but Liggins disputed the claim shortly after.
In emails released by FCPS, Liggins argued he did not use the term resignation initially and rescinded his request for a separation agreement due to “mischaracterization” of his initial request.
The board went into closed session for two and half hours shortly after convening and returned with three motions to consider: put Liggins on paid administrative leave pending review; retain the Ashland-based law firm VanAntwerp Attorneys to review Liggins’ employment agreement; and appoint Assistant Superintendent Bill Bradford as interim superintendent. All three motions passed unanimously without public discussion The board dismissed shortly after.
Board members also stated they would not entertain any motions for a separation package. In his Tuesday email, Liggins requested one year of continued compensation and benefits through June 30, 2027, after which he would void the final two years on his contract.
The changes come as the district has been grappling with an ongoing financial crisis. FCPS announced nearly two decades of budget mismanagement in April. In February, Liggins was found to have violated FCPS policy in reporting the district’s financial situation to the Board. There have been calls from lawmakers for Liggins’ resignation.
After the meeting, Interim Superintendent Bradford said after the meeting he’s humbled to serve FCPS.
“This is where I began my career as a teacher in these classrooms, and so it is extremely important to me that we are focused on our students, that we are supporting our schools, and that we are really building on the foundation that Fayette County Public Schools has, which is spectacular,” Bradford said.
Board Chair Murphy said the five-member group united in ensuring Bradford’s success and keeping the district on stable academic footing
“We know that this has been a challenging time for our community, for our families, and Dr. Bradford recognizes that as well,” Murphy said. “One of the things that stood out to us and our discussions with Dr. Bradford is Dr. Bradford cares about Fayette County. Dr. Bradford has been around Fayette County a long time, he's taught in our classrooms and he has helped drive significant academic gains in this district in his tenure and in his work here.”
After the meeting, Murphy said Liggins would be informed of the decision as outlined in the district’s policies.
