Conservative groups are pushing for the state to take over the management of Jefferson County Public Schools, the state’s largest school district.
This comes after after a shakeup of Kentucky’s Board of Education last week
Jerry Stephenson, a member of the Kentucky Pastors in Action Coalition, said he wants the state to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement with the local teachers’ union.
“The union is trying to get that board to circumvent what’s good for our children. It’s all about the union, all about the adults. It’s time for somebody to start looking out for what’s best for the children.”
The interim commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education, Wayne Lewis, is expected to release an extensive 14-month audit of the district in the coming days.
The audit could include recommendations that the state assume control of the district’s operations.
Lewis was appointed to the position last week after the ouster of former commissioner Stephen Pruitt, who had two years left on his four-year contract.
Pruitt resigned under pressure after Gov. Matt Bevin appointed new members to the board of education. Pruitt had two years left in a four year term.