Now in education news, as we told you yesterday, the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools is proposing a $142 million in budget cuts, including the elimination of hundreds of central office positions in Kentucky's largest school district.

Our Kelsey Starks sat down with Jess Clark from Louisville Public Media to learn more about what it all means.

There are a number of positions that are considered technically central office that are actually school based positions.

So there are concerns from some, you know, principals that even though some of these positions may be termed central office, they're actually going to cut in.

They're not going to insulate these schools from having staffing cuts.

And that includes academic and instructional coaches.

Which is a main concern for those coaches.

That is a main sticking point, I think, for for a lot of principals and also some board members.

These are called Aces academic Instructional coaches.

And these are folks who work with principals to look at, they kind of organize testing.

They look at data and trends in student test scores and then kind of strategize how to improve instruction in the classroom level.

They're also really important for coaching inexperienced and emergency certified teachers who classrooms are increasingly relying on because of this nationwide teacher shortage that we have.

And so, a reduction of $14 million towards those coaches that has a lot of people concerned.

Doctor Yearwood says that those coaches are not included in the 300 central office positions.

And so it's still not clear, you know, kind.

Of be that supplemental.

So those those those are included in the supplemental funding funding that he was chosen to cut.

Okay.

Yeah.

So, we'll just have to wait and see when it comes to teachers, though.

What what does it look like for teacher salaries?

So Doctor Wood has committed to not touching the, base pay for teachers.

He is interested in reducing the cost of living increase that teachers tend to see every year.

And also some of these stipends that, you know, for working in high need schools.

Some of these stipends range up to $14,000 a year.

And so the unions are in active negotiation with the district, right now.

Over, you know, whether the district can cut those, but they are on the chopping block.

Yeah.

And, what are the chances you think this proposal will be voted yes by the school board, which is the ultimate decision?

I think pretty high.

You know, the school board members have been somewhat, you know, cagey about how they plan to vote.

But they've had this proposal since December, even though the public is just seeing it now.

Board members have had it since December.

And so I imagine if it's something that they're rolling out now, you know, district has already kind of gotten board member feedback.

I'm not sure how much it'll change.

I've heard from board member James Craig that he still wants some more information about the school closures in particular.

You know, there also are a lot of questions about the instructional coaches, that we heard yesterday from board members.

So I think the closures in the eye sees those will be the main sticking points.

Will be my guess.

All right.

We'll keep an eye on it.

Thanks so much.

I know you will too.

Thanks.

Jess Clark from Louisville Public Media.

And that board is scheduled to vote on the reductions coming up January 20th.

Back to you.

Thank you so much, Kelsey.

If the school board does approve the proposal, the district is still projected to have a budget deficit of nearly $40 million.