JCPS task force hears from Pollio at first meeting in Frankfort
Despite the controversy surrounding a new JCPS task force, its first meeting Monday in Frankfort came with no fireworks and largely friendly discourse between JCPS superintendent Marty Pollio and GOP state lawmakers.
Officially, the task force is supposed to study ways to improve Jefferson County's school district, but talk of splitting up the district in the past year has many wary of its true intentions.
There was little talk of that during the meeting.
"It's my hope and goal from this that we answer the question: what's in the best interest of students, all students, across the state as well as JCPS?" said Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, a member of the task force.
Most of the meeting consisted of an informational presentation by Pollio and other district officials, who reviewed statistics requested by state lawmakers.
Seeking to counter often-repeated claims that JCPS is too top-heavy on administrators, Pollio offered state data that shows the district has the lowest per pupil cost of administration in the state at $121 per pupil.
He also pulled up data that shows graduation rates have increased by 5% and postsecondary readiness has increased by 30% since he became superintendent during the 2017-18 school year.
"The changes we have made are making a difference," he told state lawmakers.
After the meeting, Pollio was cautiously optimistic about the direction of the task force.
"It's something we were never proponents of in the first place, but it gives us a chance to highlight the work we're doing and then hopefully get some growth areas out of it, too," he said.