The Issues

​Jefferson County Public Schools are facing multiple challenges simultaneously. Students, families, and taxpayers deserve to have School Board representation with experience. Sarah can ask tough questions and provide real leadership and effective oversight. She has a thorough command of the issues, is transparent, and able to articulate her views in a thoughtful, practical manner.

"Mrs. McIntosh always went above and beyond to make sure I got the quality education I deserved when I was in her class. I'm glad to see she is running for School Board so that she will be able to help ALL students..."
                                                                                         - Corey W. 
                                                                                             Former Student

In Kentucky, School Board members are elected in non-partisan races. This means that candidates do not identify as Democrat or Republican, but rather campaign on ideas and experience. Ideally, that allows Boards to remain independent of partisan issues and focus on what is best for the students in their communities.

Equity

Every student in JCPS should graduate prepared to take on the challenges facing them in higher education or the workplace. The idea of equity in education is simple - providing EVERY student what they need to succeed. When students' educational paths are individualized, they are better able to use their gifts and talents to achieve, while also allowing educators the ability to provide the most appropriate academic and social supports. JCPS is a diverse community of learners and students' experiences should recognize and celebrate that. Our schools are impacted by the events in our community and it is important that we create supportive, nurturing environments to empower our next generation of leaders.

Student Assignment

Student assignment is one of the most pressing issues for our community. Revision of that plan is underway but far from complete. The process should be made simpler and easier for parents to understand.  As a parent, I know how these decisions impact the entire family. I believe that community voices must be included in decision making and our most vulnerable populations' needs considered. Students with IEPs, 504 plans, and belonging to historically under-served communities should experience positive outcomes as a result of any plan put forward. 
While addressing student assignment, we can't ignore disparities between schools' offerings. Popular and successful programs should be replicated to include more students. Challenging curriculum should be universally available. Programs like the Academies of Louisville should be expanded along with internships, apprenticeships, and career-focused opportunities. Every school in JCPS should be a place their community is proud of.

Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment

Standards refer to what students should know or be able to do. Curriculum are the lessons, activities, and methods used to help students reach the standards. Assessments are ways for students to demonstrate the extent to which they have mastered standards at a given point in the curriculum. While this may seem to be semantics, understanding the difference is very important when evaluating student achievement or teacher performance.  With sixteen years of classroom experience, I am prepared to lead conversations about District academic improvement. I also understand how policies decided on by the Board impact students and teachers in the classrooms. I will advocate for meaningful collection and application of assessment data. I will support actions that encourage deeper learning, classroom innovation, professional collaboration, and access to modern, student-centered resources. I believe that students are more than a test score and that the true measure of student achievement considers the full body of a student's work and should not be limited to third-party standardized test performance. 

Returning to School 
Update 1/10/21
Whether advocating for an immediate return to in-person instruction or encouraging a continuation of NTI, emotions are high and opinions are strong. I believe that everyone shares the goal of acting in the best interest of students, which is as it should be. Constituents have sent me countless articles and opinions to support their arguments. I appreciate the communications. 

During the meeting on January 5, I voted to allow sports (Dance, Cheer, Swim, Basketball, Wrestling, and Bowling) to begin practice. I believe that the coaches are committed to providing safe environments and understand the importance of following proper protocols. The Board as a whole voted 4-3, however, against that motion. Unless the overall situation changes in a considerable or unpredictable way, I will vote the same in the future. While I have received a lot of positive feedback on that vote, many have questioned why I would support sports practices but still want to wait until teachers and staff are vaccinated for a return to in-person instruction. First, I have to say that it is easier to provide distance between players and coaches in a gymnasium or pool than a classroom simply because of space. I also believe that the issue is one of equity. Students throughout our community have continued to practice and compete with private clubs and teams. This is not an option for many of our students because of the financial obligation that those teams require. Their public school is their only access to sports and activities and I can't ask those with the least to sacrifice the most. Finally, sports are not compulsory. Families can decide if participation is in the best interest of their student when all factors are considered. Coaches do the job because they love it and their players; not for the small stipend. They, too, can make the choice on whether to proceed and could even decide that, for their own safety, they want to take precautions beyond what is recommended and required. I would welcome feedback from coaches of these sports, particularly wrestling. It is the one I know the least about.  If you would like to view the January 5 meeting, you can do so here .

I have said since last summer that I would support sending kids back to school when it is safe to do so. To make that happen, we must ensure that we are able to adequately staff the buildings and buses. Districts that have shifted back and forth between NTI and in-person have done so because as community numbers climbed, they found it impossible to staff their buildings safely and in accordance with the law. Waivers have NOT been granted regarding teacher certification, including for substitutes. Public schools still must operate under all current legislation and regulations which includes having a certified individual responsible for supervision.  Schools legally cannot rely on support staff or volunteers to supervise students. Roughly 2/3 of JCPS students depend on bus transportation. Bus drivers are required to have a CDL so qualified individuals are already in short supply.  Custodians, nutrition services, instructional aides and other positions also have to remain filled. Applications are always accepted via the JCPS website and anyone interested is highly encouraged to apply.  s We have had shortages for years and COVID has exacerbated that. 

Many families prefer to return when schools can remain open. My experience as an educator leads me to also believe that is the right decision. Students need consistency and for many, the back-and-forth would be as disruptive as NTI. It is also unclear that resources that have been put in place by JCPS and private organizations to support families through NTI would be able to immediately pick up where they left off if an abrupt return to NTI occurred. I will support the District's current plan because it is pragmatic. Details for how this will look in schools can be found with links to individual school plans as well. You can also read about the plan for employee vaccination . Based on this information, I am hopeful that by the January 19 meeting we will be able to have an estimated timeline for opening our doors. 

It is unfortunate that this has been spun into a political debate. Differences of opinion are not the same as misinformation or conspiracy. Most communications sent to me have been respectful and I make an effort to respond to all except those filled with expletives or low-brow, personal attacks. I will not speculate on how some rumors were created but will only say that there has been no attempt by anyone representing JCTA to contact me regarding the return to school. In fact, I have not been contacted by any organization or individual representing an organization regarding my vote. I encourage everyone to rely on demonstrable facts and not social media rumors. If you have questions, please ask me. 

I will continue to study the issue and consult with professionals so that when the time comes I can act in good faith that my decision is based in fact and the most up-to-date information available. If you or your student are in need of supports while at home, please don't hesitate to reach out so that I can help refer you to an appropriate person or organization. 

 "Tax Hike"
Jefferson County Public Schools has a current working budget of over $1 billion. On November 3, the voters in our community will decide if they are willing to pay an additional $70 per $100,000 assessed value. I recognize that the timing for this decision add an additional layer to the debate and that there is a lot of information available to those who want to make an informed decision. I respect the differences of opinion and since I am not currently on the Board, my vote will carry the same weight as every other voters'. I honestly do not know if it will pass but either way, it will be a decision that impact JCPS for many years to come. I want to share some of the facts that I have considered when making up my own mind about the requested revenue increase. I believe that it is important to make decisions like this based on facts and data rather than emotion. 
 
Facilities Since at least the 1980s, prior leadership did not properly maintain facilities or invest in the District's infrastructure. The construction of new schools did not keep pace with population growth or residential development. We are left with buildings that have received "band-aid" style repairs for decades with poor ventilation, faulty wiring, mold, and many other serious problems that go far beyond cosmetic issues. The cost to keep some of the buildings operational has a long-term cost that exceeds that of constructing new facilities. Louisville and Jefferson County (formerly separate systems) hastily constructed schools to meet the needs of the post-WWII baby boom with little to no long-term planning occurring since. Our newest high school opened its doors in 1968. It is nearly impossible to retro-fit some buildings with modern science or technology labs, appropriate accommodations for the differently abled, and a number of other features needed for 21st Century learning.  The new high school in nearby Scott County was designed to accommodate 1,500 students at a price tag of $90 million opened in 2019. That is a fairly typical cost nation-wide. Middle schools cost $30-40 million with elementary schools coming in at an average $25 million. These costs are far more than what JCPS can afford using cost cutting measures alone.

Student Needs JCPS serves nearly 100,000 students across more than 160 locations. Roughly 67% of JCPS students qualify for free or reduced lunch and over 6,000 of them experienced homelessness last year. There are 5,000 students with limited English proficiency representing dozens of languages. 12,000 students receive varying levels of support through ECE (special education) services. Research dating back more than 100 years demonstrates that students that come to school hungry, traumatized, abused, unhealthy, or otherwise unsafe have a more difficult time succeeding in the classroom. All of these factors mean that many of the District's students need additional resources in order to achieve. 

Revenue and Spending Operating a district the size of JCPS is expensive even with the most responsible spending. The 2020-21 budget includes the following: $20 million for electricity and natural gas, $4.5 million for water and sewage, $82 million for building operations (everything from light bulbs cleaning supplies), and $25.5 million for building maintenance (roofing, plumbing, electrical, etc). That is $132 million to turn on the lights, flush the toilets and provide a clean environment for students and staff. All of that is before any teachers are hired, instructional materials purchased, or transportation provided. (link to the full budget below)

Speaking of transportation, this is possibly the budget issue I have been asked about most often. Community members are told that if we eliminate "busing" we will ease the financial woes of the District. The math simply does not support that assertion. $76 million is what the District has budgeted for transportation, representing 4.5% of the total budget. Many students, particularly in the West End, do not have a school close to home. Others throughout the District choose a magnet or optional school located in another part of town. Many families rely on bus transportation in the morning, afternoon, or both even when attending their resides school. While an amended student assignment plan can create more efficient use of transportation funds, that alone will not provide enough revenue for new school construction or facility refurbishment.

In the early 1990's, the state of Kentucky made a commitment to fund schools across the state through the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). Since then, that commitment has been lost and funding has eroded. For JCPS, that means tens of millions of dollars less per year in revenue from the state. This is not a partisan issue; both major parties are responsible for rolling back funding and the allocations to districts are not directly tied to the issue of Teachers' Retirement. Standard per student allocation has not kept up with inflation, so district dollars don't stretch as far. Since 2008, the state has also completely eliminated funding for textbooks (or their materials equivalent), teacher training, new teacher supports, and many other still-mandated expenses. The testing and accountability structure has also repeatedly changed, forcing schools and districts to constantly reinvest in materials that quickly become obsolete. Finally, the formula the state uses to provide per pupil allocations to the districts places a higher burden on districts that are perceived to have a greater local revenue source. That means Jefferson County which is calculated to be "property rich" is forced to turn increasingly to its local taxpayers to make up the difference. Examination of the state budget documents shows that JCPS receives less money per student. (link to state documents below) I have a history of advocating for state funding for our schools and will continue to work with members of both parties to that end.

​Click here to connect to the JCPS budget page.
Click here to connect to the Kentucky Department of Education SEEK page

Want to discuss these or other education issues with Sarah? Email her at [email protected]

Paid for by Sarah McIntosh for School Board