JCPS approves part of the budget plan, but there are still cuts to be made. On January 20th, the Jefferson County Board of Education met to discuss a draft for the 2026-27 school year. Superintendent Brian Yearwood proposed a plan to cut $140 million from the budget. The draft included major cuts to the JCPS central office staff and the closing of King and Zachery Taylor elementary. On Friday, January 16, Yearwood made a change to the draft, eliminating the funding for Mental Health Practitioners and School Safety Administrators to keep Instructional Coaches. Teachers, parents, and faculty were encouraged to express how they felt about the draft and its changes at the meeting

Maddie Shepard, president of the Jefferson County Teacher Association, expressed her concerns about keeping Mental Health Professionals in school. Without them, it would put another responsibility on teachers.

“Teachers are asked to be everything, counselors, therapists, nurses, everything but teachers; schools need Mental Health Practitioners,” Shepard said.

Courtney Green, a fifth-grade elementary school teacher at Zachary Taylor Elementary, addressed the board and encouraged them to take a closer look at the budget after it was proposed to close Zachary Taylor and King Elementary.

“Our students have dealt with trauma in their young lives. And yet, we are putting these young minds through additional trauma, taking away their safe space.” Green said. “I urge you to vote to keep Zachary Taylor open.”

The board considered the community’s voices. JCPS will keep the budget for Mental Health Practitioners. Schools will have to use their own budget for School Safety Administrators and Academic Instructional Coaches. Though the board voted to close King and Zachary Taylor elementary and use them as “swing schools”. While other schools are being renovated, students will be held in those two schools. The plan is still in its drafting stages, and changes will still be made until the board can all agree.