New JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood talks budget issues, academics

Today marks Harold Brian Yearwood's first official day as the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky's largest district with roughly 96,000 students, 17,000 employees and a myriad of challenges he will be tasked with addressing rather quickly.

From ongoing busing issues to a staffing shortage, budget deficit and persistent academic achievement gap, Yearwood has landed a complex job with many around the city and state watching to see how he performs.

While his contract began July 1, Yearwood started familiarizing himself with the district's key players a week early with what he called his "listening and learning tour."

In an interview with The Courier Journal, Yearwood said education is "like a three-legged stool," comprised of students, schools and the community. If one of the legs is broken, he said, the stool won't stand.

As he steps into his new role, his primary focus is on gathering as much information as possible about each of those legs by meeting with central office leaders, administrators and community groups, as well as conducting school visits.

"Just on day one, I've learned so much about the great things happening here," Yearwood said of his unofficial first day.

When asked if he has any plans for immediate changes, Yearwood said no, explaining, "I always want to get the full picture, not just a part or one side."

Here's more of what Yearwood said in a one-on-one interview with The CJ.

The budget he is inheriting.

In May, Jefferson County Board of Education members were presented a proposed budget that's nearly $100 million less than the district's current budget. More troubling is the fact that the district will need to cut another $50 million in the budget two years from now, according to Chief Financial Officer Eddie Muns.

While cutting the initial $100 million wasn't particularly painful, former Superintendent Marty Pollio said, the next $50 million will be a harder to pill to swallow — particularly if the district intends to raise wages in order to retain and attract more employees to address staff shortages in several areas, from teachers to instructional aids.

Yearwood said this is his first concern, and he hopes, through his listening tour, to learn of some solutions regarding JCPS' financial situation.

His start to the job comes shortly after the district landed a major donation from Yum! Brands, which is gifting the district its Gardiner Lane campus, where JCPS plans to relocate and consolidate its central office operations.

With the district already in the process of looking to purchase a new central office location using profits from the sale of three properties, the donation should save it about $25 million. Before leaving, Pollio floated the idea that those funds could go toward building a new school. When asked if that's what he wants to do, Yearwood said maybe.

"It could be a variety of things — enhancing programs, enhancing things for teachers," Yearwood said of the funding. "Whatever decision is made, the public will definitely know about it and hear about it ... and at the end of the day, we want to make decisions and operate with students in mind. I think as long as that is driving what is ahead, we will be making some sound decisions."

While stabilizing the district's budget is a top concern, Yearwood's overarching goal for JCPS is to improve student performance — and he believes he has the ability to achieve that.

"I'm considered a turnaround leader," Yearwood said. "I've turned around schools and districts. My strong suit is in the academic area."

But, he said, "it is not an overnight journey, it does take time."

In his last district — Columbia Public Schools in Missouri — Yearwood said it took three years to make significant improvements. In Texas, one of the districts he worked for went from an "F" on the state's accountability system to a "B" in four years, he said.

Such progress, he argued, is achieved by setting higher expectations; ensuring teachers believe and are supported in their belief that children can learn and grow; and guiding schools to focus on growth rather than proficiency. Despite the many barriers to academic achievement that JCPS students face, Yearwood said they all can achieve growth and will be motivated by it.

"It starts small with small steps," Yearwood said. "It starts with encouragement. It starts with making sure teachers have what they need and the training."

In previous districts, those small steps sometimes meant tasking staff with achieving a 3% growth jump. Another example he provided was moving a fifth grade student on a second grade reading level to a third grade reading level by the end of a school year.

When that happens, he said, "it keeps the motivation alive for that child and that teacher and sooner or later, there will be growth spurts."

"Education is not a one size fits all for students," Yearwood said. "We just have to ensure that as we teach, we work with our students, that we differentiate."

While still on his listening tour, Yearwood also spoke to school safety, teacher morale and what transportation changes he might entertain.

Like members of the school board, he said, his hope for all JCPS students is access to "a quality educational environment, one in which all students have experiences that allow them to be successful in a post-secondary environment."

Aside from improved academics, Yearwood said, "safety is also very important to me. We must make sure our schools are safe places."

Additionally, in order to achieve that quality educational environment, "we must make sure we are recruiting and retaining quality teachers," he said.

While noting his strong suit is academics, Yearwood said he also has strong experience in human resources.

Within JCPS, he said he can already tell there are very passionate teachers, adding, "I've gone into school districts that don't even have half the passion that I have found here in JCPS."

But, he said, teachers must feel valued because "our teachers are the true soldiers in our district. They are the ones that will make a true difference in the lives of our students every day."

In regard to transportation changes, two concerns remain for some board members: the lack of transportation for most magnet students and the current bell schedule, which leaders argue is dictated by bus schedules. Asked whether he'd consider changing the current system, Yearwood said he'd have to examine the issues. But, as transportation leaders have said, changes will require more drivers.

"Unless we have the bus drivers, there's not a lot we could do or change," Yearwood said.

Krista Johnson covers education and children. Have story ideas or questions? Contact her at [email protected] and subscribe to her newsletter.