According to a release from Fayette County Public Schools, Superintendent Demetrus Liggins has submitted a resignation notice to the Board of Education.
However, according to reports from LEX 18 and the Lexington Herald-Leader, Liggins himself said he still remains superintendent, though he has requested “that the Board engage in discussions regarding a potential separation agreement.”
“At this time, no resignation has been submitted, accepted, or finalized,” according to the reports.
WEKU has reached out to Liggins directly to confirm.
Liggins has been FCPS superintendent since 2021. Over the past year, the school district has been dealing with a number of financial issues under his watch. Multiple audits of the district’s budget are ongoing after a $16 million shortfall was discovered last year. Since then, Liggins has faced widespread calls to resign from members of the public and multiple state lawmakers.
In February, an independent report by Ashland-based law firm VanAntwerp Attorneys found Liggins did not properly oversee the district’s finance and budget departments. It also found he did not keep the Board of Education fully informed of the district’s financial situation, though not intentionally.
In April, FCPS revealed budget misreporting dating back to at least 2008. The school district is cutting 120 district staff positions, using money from its contingency fund and taking out a $95 million loan to balance the budget.
The Fayette County Board of Education is holding a special-called meeting tonight at their headquarters building to address Liggins’ resignation and the district’s interim leadership at 7:30 p.m.
