Republican state House and Senate lawmakers representing parts of Louisville filed a measure Monday that could lay the groundwork for splitting up Jefferson County Public Schools.
House Concurrent Resolution 81 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 142 would create a 13-member task force of lawmakers, city and state officials, JCPS parents, business leaders and one teacher.
The group would review JCPS’ effectiveness and governance structure, and make recommendations for possible changes.
Louisville Republican Rep. Ken Fleming, who is co-sponsoring the legislation, said when talking to constituents he heard a “systemic theme… that something needs to be changed.”
During a news conference Monday, Fleming and other Republican supporters pointed to JCPS’ test scores, student behavior issues and transportation woes as evidence the state’s largest district is in need of study.
“Many of the students and staff have lost hours of learning and teaching opportunities due to continued transportation issues,” Republican Sen. Lindsey Tichenor of Smithfield said. Tichenor’s district includes a portion of JCPS.