Things must change at Jefferson County Public Schools.

Well, that's what lawmakers say in regard to Senate Bill one, which would transfer operational duties from the school board to the superintendent.

That bill was debated in committee today, along with a measure to improve financial transparency among all school districts.

Our Mackenzie Spink was in Frankfort and tells us more on the Senate priority bills that passed the education committee today.

The measures come as the state's largest public school districts, Jefferson and Fayette counties, deal with multi-million dollar budget shortfall.

More about this as we kick off tonight's legislative update.

Senate Bill three, sponsored by Senator Lindsey Titchener, would require school districts to regularly post financial reports and credit card statements to their public websites to improve transparency among their spending habits.

Senate Bill three will strengthen requirements for financial transparency for our districts and expand the general public's access to the budgeting process, financial reports, and spending information in order to ensure our taxpayer dollars are utilized properly and effectively for the education of Kentucky's public school students.

Although spending by the two largest school districts has been in the spotlight recently, Senator Titchener and committee chair Senator Stephen West say the measure will benefit all districts in the state.

It's not just JCPs.

There are problems everywhere across the state and it's good for the public to have this transparency, but it's also important.

What we've seen is the people who are constitutionally elected to make decisions by the people, don't have access to basic information.

Senate Bill three passed with only one no vote from Republican Senator Stephen Meredith, who says the bill doesn't go far enough.

Senate Bill one aims to improve outcomes in Jefferson County schools by redefining the powers of the school board, making the superintendent a more powerful authority concerning day to day operations of the district.

It's clear we think the board doesn't need to be engaged in the day to day Low-Level operations of the district, and to hire the best and put them in charge and give them the authority to make those decisions.

That's the way we see the role of superintendent.

A concern brought up by lawmakers and teacher advocates was the effect the bill has on local decision making.

As school board officials are the only elected officials in the public school system.

This bill undermines that principle of collaborative democratic decision making by stripping power away from an elected board and concentrating it into one unelected administrator, fundamentally altering the balance of democratic oversight.

Bill sponsor Senator David Givens says the board will still retain the ultimate authority of hiring or firing superintendents, which connects the superintendent to voter accountability.

I think with regard to accountability to voters, the board is that connection to the voters in this case and then the connection to the superintendent having that authority to say he or she must go is the ultimate authority.

Regarding Senate Bill one, the current JCPs superintendent says he's against the measure.

It seems that you want to give me the more authority, but I'm here to tell you I shouldn't have it.

Senator Gerald Neill says the new superintendent needs more time to course correct JCPs before governance changes.

Like SB one.

Move forward.

I am encouraged by the new leadership that I see, and I am encouraged by the collaboration that's been placed and is apparently unfolding the Jefferson County Public Schools.

We owe you the ability to come in here and do what you say you will deliver.

Several senators expressed that they feel JCPs is out of chances.

41 out of the 55 lowest performing districts in the state of Kentucky are located within JCPs.

That's been ongoing for 20 or 30 years.

We've heard things are going to get better.

We have a new three year plan.

We have a new five year plan to turn a blind eye to the situation in Jefferson County.

Would not only be unethical, it would be immoral.

Senate Bill one passed out of committee and will next head to the Senate floor for consideration.

The original bill passed both chambers when it was first introduced in 2022, but in 2025, the bill was ruled unconstitutional by the Kentucky Supreme Court for unreasonably targeting JCPs.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Mackenzie Spink.

Thank you.

Mackenzie and response to the Kentucky Supreme Court's ruling.

Senator Givens says this year's version of the bill includes 42 reasons why JCPs should be treated differently than other school districts.