In dueling statements, KY 120 United AFT and the district have been responding to a 20 percent across-the-board cut and a $16 million gap in next year's budget. The union claims many were "vilified" for raising concerns about the budget late last year.
School board chair Tyler Murphy said it's important to remember the district is now dealing with projections going forward.
"We're currently operating in fiscal year 2025. What we're doing now is anticipating what's gonna happen in 2026," he noted.
The union has also interpreted statements by the district as laying the blame on teacher raises. At a Thursday budget meeting, Murphy told WUKY the district isn't pointing the finger at anyone.
"No one's to blame locally. School districts are absorbing the effects of a volatile economic market. They're absorbing the effects that people feel every day in their own pocketbooks, in their own retirement accounts, and that's the rising cost," Murphy said. "And we're responding to that, and we want to be sure we respond to it in a way that does not negatively affect our students or our staff."
In the meeting, several factors were identified — ranging from inflation to rising insurance costs. Staff also noted that the district has attracted more teachers with greater experience than expected. The district also plans to shed some administrative employees through attrition.
The budget will be discussed again on May 27 before the board votes on the spending plan.