The JCPS school board is the seven-member elected body that governs Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky’s largest school district. Its members hire the superintendent, set local property tax rates, approve the district budget, and vote on policies that reach every JCPS classroom. Meetings are open to the public, and residents can sign up to speak.
Seven Members, Seven Divisions
Each member is elected from a separate geographic division within Jefferson County. Kentucky grants this seven-seat structure only to counties containing a merged city of the first class, which in practice means Louisville-Jefferson County.1Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Code – 22 RS BR 1998 Division boundaries follow existing voting-precinct lines and must keep populations roughly equal. The board draws the lines; the county board of elections reviews and approves them, and once set, divisions cannot be redrawn for at least five years unless a merger, annexation, or precinct change forces an adjustment.2Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Code 160.210 – Election of Board Members, Divisions in Districts, Change in Boundary Lines
School board elections in Kentucky are nonpartisan, so no party labels appear on the ballot. You vote only for the candidate in your division, but every member, once seated, serves all JCPS students.
What the Board Decides
Kentucky law gives each local board “general control and management” of the public schools in its district. That covers school funds and property, the authority to establish new schools and programs, and the duty to appoint the superintendent and set employee compensation.3Justia Law. Kentucky Code 160.290 – General Powers and Duties of Board The superintendent runs daily operations; the board evaluates that work annually and decides whether to renew the contract.
On the money side, the board levies the local property taxes that fund district operations and capital projects. Kentucky caps how much additional revenue a rate can produce year over year. A rate projected to generate more than four percent additional revenue from existing real property (new construction excluded) requires a public hearing and is subject to a recall vote.4Justia Law. Kentucky Code 160.470 – Tax Rate Limits, Hearing, Levy Exceeding Four Percent Increase Subject to Recall Vote or Reconsideration Smaller increases above the compensating rate still trigger a public hearing before the vote.
The board also approves contracts, sets the school calendar, and votes on policies covering student discipline, employee benefits, and much else. Large purchases follow Kentucky’s competitive-bidding law, which requires public advertisement for contracts above a set threshold.5Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Code 424.260 – Bids for Materials, Supplies, Equipment, or Services
Meetings and How to Speak
Board meetings are governed by the Kentucky Open Meetings Act, which treats school district board gatherings as public business that cannot be conducted in secret.6Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Open Meetings and Open Records Laws Statutes Regular business meetings happen at the VanHoose Education Center on Newburg Road in Louisville and are broadcast publicly.
To address the board during public comment, sign up in advance. You can call the board secretary’s office during business hours or sign a speaker’s card in person before the meeting begins. Each speaker gets three minutes. Board policy prohibits specific personnel complaints and defamatory or abusive remarks during public comment, and the board generally does not engage in back-and-forth dialogue during these sessions.
Elections and the 2026 Reset
Board members serve four-year terms, elected in even-numbered years on nonpartisan ballots. In normal cycles, the seven seats are staggered so only some divisions appear on the ballot at a time, which keeps the full board from turning over at once.
JCPS recently redistricted all seven divisions following population changes, and all current terms expire on December 31, 2026. The November 2026 election will reset the stagger: winners in some divisions will serve shortened two-year terms while others receive full four-year terms, so future elections again alternate between groups of seats.7Jefferson County Public Schools. Jefferson County Board of Education Members Assigned to New Districts
How Mid-Term Vacancies Get Filled
When a seat opens before the term ends, the remaining members have 60 days to appoint a replacement. Within 30 days of the vacancy, the board must post the opening on the district website and advertise it in the county’s largest general-circulation newspaper for two weeks. Applicants submit a letter of intent confirming they meet the eligibility requirements under KRS 160.180, along with proof of education.
If the board fails to appoint someone within 60 days, Kentucky’s chief state school officer fills the seat. Any appointee serves until a successor is elected. If the unexpired term has at least one year remaining as of August 1, the seat appears on the ballot at the next regular election so voters can pick a permanent replacement.8Kentucky Department of Education. Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Vacancies on Local Boards of Education
Running for a Seat
Kentucky law sets several eligibility requirements for school board candidates. To run, you must be at least 24 years old and a Kentucky citizen for at least three years before the election, and you must be a registered voter in the division you seek to represent. You need to have completed the twelfth grade or earned a High School Equivalency Diploma, with a sworn affidavit or transcript filed with your nominating petition.
You cannot hold any other elective federal, state, county, or city office while serving. You cannot be directly or indirectly involved in selling books, supplies, equipment, or services purchased with school funds. For members elected after July 13, 1990, you cannot have a parent, sibling, spouse, son, or daughter employed by the school district. And you cannot have been previously removed from a board of education for misconduct. A member who moves out of the division they were elected to represent can be removed from office.9Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Code 160.180 – Eligibility for Membership on Local Board of Education, Annual In-Service Training Requirements
The job does not pay a salary. State law allows a $150 per diem for each regular or special meeting attended, plus reimbursement of actual expenses, capped at $6,000 per calendar year. Members may enroll in the district’s group medical or dental insurance but pay the full premium themselves. Annual in-service training through the Kentucky School Boards Association is required, with newer members carrying the heaviest hour requirements.10Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 702 KAR 1:116 – Board Member Training Requirements
Recall and Removal
Kentucky law provides two paths to remove a member before the term ends. The state can remove a member for grounds such as moving out of the division, failing to meet eligibility requirements, or neglect of duty.9Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Code 160.180 – Eligibility for Membership on Local Board of Education, Annual In-Service Training Requirements
Voters can also pursue a recall. A recall petition must be signed by at least 25 percent of the total votes cast in the last election for that specific seat. It has to be filed with the county clerk within 90 days of filing a notice of intent, or by June 1 of the election year, whichever comes first. A recall petition cannot be filed during the first 90 days of a member’s term, or within 180 days of the regular election at which the recall question would appear on the ballot.