More than two years after avoiding a takeover, the Jefferson County (Ky.) school district is no longer under state assistance.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that state education officials say the district has remedied dozens of issues found in a 2018 audit and is clear to operate on its own
Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass says audit determined "neither state management nor state assistance is necessary to correct any inefficiencies and ineffectiveness within the district."
Jefferson County Superintendent Marty Pollio says it is a new day for the district.
"We promised change, and I believe we've delivered on that change," Pollio says. "I think we're on track, but we still have a lot of work to do, and we will be focusing on that work even more intensely and pushing harder to ensure that special education is where we need it to be in the years to come. And I believe we will be successful."
A 2018 state audit found Jefferson County deficient on scores of issues, and Lewis responded by calling for a state takeover of the district. That would have meant losing control of its finances, personnel, operations and other responsibilities.
[From 2018: Jefferson County (Ky.) district makes deal to avoid state takeover]
The district challenged the recommendation, and instead of a state takeover, Jefferson County collaborated with state officials on a corrective action plan.
Pollio says the district has completed all but 27 of its 276 corrective action items.
Most of the yet-to-be fixed issues are "isolated" and not "widespread and systemic like it was three years ago," Pollio says.
