The Franklin Circuit Court has blocked a Kentucky law that would’ve made Fayette County Board of Education Chair Tyler Murphy ineligible to serve another term.
Tuesday afternoon, Judge Thomas Wingate granted Murphy and the Kentucky Education Association a permanent injunction in their challenge of Senate Bill 4.
The legislation, passed by the General Assembly this spring, prevents educators who work more than 100 days in another Kentucky school district to serve on the board of the district where they are otherwise a resident.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Murphy called Tuesday’s ruling a victory for educators.
“For the incredible people of Fayette County and District 2, I’m so proud to represent. And for all of us who want to keep the focus on what matters most: supporting our schools and students who rely on them,” Murphy said.
The law would’ve upended Murphy’s eligibility in the November elections. He was first elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022.
Legislators pushed through the bill to oust Murphy at a contentious time. Fayette County Public Schools and the board have been embroiled in controversy for more than a year following the discovery of deep-seated financial mismanagement.
Monday, the school board approved a corrective action plan to address issues discovered in an external audit, but the FCPS fund balance remains lower than required and the district faces an almost $5.2 million deficit for the current year.
Gov. Andy Beshear initially vetoed SB 4, but in April, legislators overrode that veto.
In a statement, the KEA said the injunctions reaffirms the constitutional right of educators to serve their communities.
“Educators bring valuable firsthand knowledge and experience to school board service,” KEA President Joel Wolford said. “SB 4 attempted to silence those voices and weaken local representation.”
