Dr. Demetrus Liggins, the superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS), is disputing the school board’s claim that he resigned. According to a press release from his attorneys, Dr. Liggins proposed discussions toward a possible separation agreement but did not submit an unconditional resignation.
Allegations of Misconduct
His attorneys allege that the Board’s actions breach Dr. Liggins’ contract, which runs through June 30, 2029. The contract reportedly prohibits reassignment without Dr. Liggins’ express written consent. The press release also notes that the Board’s June 11 letter cited the wrong Kentucky statutes to justify placing Dr. Liggins on administrative leave and installing a replacement superintendent without legal authority to do so.
Attorney Amos N. Jones stated, ‘This is not administrative leave in any meaningful sense. They announced a resignation that never happened, displaced the lawful superintendent, installed another superintendent, silenced Dr. Liggins inside his own system, and then hired investigators to determine whether the result already imposed should be imposed. Kentucky law does not allow a school board to manufacture a vacancy, perform a removal first, and search for a justification afterward.’
The press release gives FCPS a four-day deadline to rescind the administrative leave, withdraw the replacement-superintendent designation, and correct the public record. If the district does not comply, Dr. Liggins’ legal team has indicated it will pursue legal action, which could carry significant financial consequences for Fayette County taxpayers.
Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.
