In education news, tensions between Fayette County Public Schools and concerned teachers and families continue to rise as the district deals with fallout from over a decade of financial mismanagement.

At last night's school board meeting, officials made it clear the district would need to take out a $110 million loan to pay staff in July.

As our Clayton Dalton reports, protesters gathered at the Central Office building to share their frustrations and tell.

Tyler here, I. Cried last night.

The Fayette County Board of Education met to discuss the district's ongoing financial crisis and propose a budget for the upcoming school year.

Before the meeting, protesters gathered outside to share their grievances, particularly regarding layoffs and pay cuts.

The way that they chose to go about fixing an issue is by cutting our rank and file staff.

Our custodians have been cut days.

Our cafeteria managers have been cut days.

We've had entire departments that our librarians depend on removed.

Done away with.

So what we're seeing is, you know, an effort by the district to try to solve, money issues that they have created, in my opinion, because, you know, the buck stops with them.

So we have a lot of people who are trying to figure out how they're going to make it.

Now, with having days cut in this economy, no one, no one should have to have to take a pay cut.

There's been just a real feeling of fear and uncertainty and uncertainty and sadness.

Last month, Superintendent Demetrius Liggins announced the district had much less money than previously thought due to poor accounting practices dating back to at least 2008.

But many of the protesters feel the burden is falling on the wrong people.

First of all, this should have never happened.

This should have never happened.

Second of all, you know, taking it off of the backs of people who can't afford $50 less a month when other people can, and other positions at this level, we feel like should have been looked at first.

Members of Kentucky 120 United, a statewide union for teachers, say they're asking for a seat at the table.

Our union has been coming to board meetings for at least the last two years, every month.

Just just to say, tapped in for our members.

We've spoken up several times.

We've asked for a, legally binding collective bargaining agreement.

Several times, from the board.

And, unfortunately, the board chair, Tyler Murphy, has refused to put it on the agenda.

And the only thing that we can think of is they they they don't want to put that on the agenda, because then they would have to open up their financials.

We ascertain that as rank and file, as the people who are doing the work in the classrooms every day and busses every day.

We deserve a legally binding collective bargaining agreement so that we truly can have a seat at the table.

So far, we've been silenced.

The superintendent refuses to meet with leadership of our union.

He is yet to tell us why.

So, again, it's a lot of a lack of transparency.

A lot a lot of lack of professionalism.

If I refused to meet with a parent, you know that that would be on me.

There are things that they've done in this building that I would have lost my job for a long time ago.

And that's sad.

Hey, hey!

Ho ho.

Union bosses.

Good to go for Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

Thank you.

Clayton.

The board is proposing an $880 million budget for the upcoming school year.

Up almost $50 million from this year's budget.

That includes revenue from the potential sale of three properties, including two school campuses.

The board must adopt a tentative budget by May the 30th.