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[DRAFT] SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This Settlement Agreement (“Agreement”) is made by and between the Board of
Education of Jefferson County, Kentucky (“JCBE”) and the Kentucky Department of Education
(“KDE”) to be effective as of the Effective Date (defined below). JCBE and KDE are collectively
referred to herein as the “Parties.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on or about February 14, 2017, KDE initiated a management audit (the
“Audit”) of the Jefferson County, Kentucky Public School District (“Jefferson County Public
Schools” or “JCPS”) pursuant to KRS 158.780, KRS 158.785, and 703 KAR 3:205;
WHEREAS, on or about April 30, 2018, the Interim Commissioner of KDE (the “Interim
Commissioner”) issued his Management Audit Findings and Recommendation of State
Management (“Management Audit Findings”), wherein the Interim Commissioner
recommended to the Kentucky Board of Education (“KBE”) that the Jefferson County Public
Schools be declared a “state-managed” district pursuant to KRS 158.785(3) & (4) and 703 KAR
3:205;
WHEREAS, on or about May 30, 2018, JCBE requested a hearing before KBE on the
Interim Commissioner’s recommendation of state management, pursuant to KRS 158.780, KRS
158.785, and 703 KAR 3:205;
WHEREAS, there is currently pending before KBE an administrative action styled
Kentucky Department of Education v. Board of Education of Jefferson County, Kentucky,
Kentucky Board of Education Administrative Action No. 2018-01 (the “Action”); and
WHEREAS, in lieu of further engagement in the administrative process, JCBE and KDE
desire to engage in a mutually-designed collaborative and cooperative process based upon the
statutory framework set forth in KRS 158.785 that has the mutual goal of making further
improvements in the governance and administration of JCPS.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the preeomises and the mutual covenants of the
Parties and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1.

Terms of Agreement.
A.

Dismissal of Action

[1]
Within 3 working days of the Parties signing this Agreement, the
Parties will execute the Agreed Recommended Order of Dismissal with Prejudice
attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, and it will be tendered to the Hearing

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Officer in the Action for signature and entry into the administrative record and
submission to KBE for entry of a final order.
B.

Retention of Authority By JCBE and Superintendent.

[1]
Except as expressly limited by a specific provision in this
Agreement, JCBE shall retain all power and authority granted to and currently
exercised by it in its capacity as a body politic and corporate and local board of
education under all applicable federal and Kentucky statutes, regulations and
court decisions (“Applicable Law”), and the JCPS Superintendent
(“Superintendent”) shall retain all power and authority granted to and currently
exercised by him in his capacity as the executive agent of the JCBE under
Applicable Law, including, but not limited to KRS 160.160, KRS 160.290, KRS
160.300, KRS 160.370, KRS 160.380 and KRS 160.390.
C.

Final Corrective Action Plan.

[1]
KDE and JCBE have mutually agreed that, until the conclusion of
the 2020 Audit as set forth in Section 1.E.[1], JCPS will be subject to and will
implement the corrective plans and processes to address the 58 areas where the
Audit found a deficiency, as set forth in the corrective action plans attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit B (collectively, the “Final CAP”). Within 15 working
days after the Effective Date of this Agreement, a representative or
representatives of JCBE will meet and confer with a representative or
representatives of KDE for the purpose of creating a corrective action plan or
plans (collectively, the “Final CAP”) to address the deficiencies described in the
Management Audit Findings. The respective representatives of JCBE and KDE
will use their best efforts to reach agreement on the contents of the Final CAP
within 15 working days of the initial conference. If the respective representatives
of JCBE and KDE are unable to reach agreement on the contents of the Final
CAP, then all such matters upon which the representatives agree shall be included
in the Final CAP, and any such matter upon which the representatives cannot
agree shall be submitted to the Interim Commissioner or his successor in office
(“KDE Commissioner”) for final determination.
[2]
Until the conclusion of the 2020 Audit as set forth in Section
1.E.[1], the Superintendent or his designee will provide monthly status reports to
the KDE Commissioner or the KDE Commissioner’s designee related to progress
on implementation of the Final CAP, and KDE staff will provide continual
feedback, at least monthly, to JCPS related to the progress of JCPS in the
implementation of the Final CAP.
D.

Additional Terms.

[1]
In accordance with KRS 160.380 and other laws governing the
hiring of public school employees, JCBE will create and the Superintendent will
staff by January 1, 2019, an independent office with the ability to investigate

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complaints from any and all sources regarding any matter related to the Jefferson
County Public Schools (i.e., Internal Auditor). The JCPS administrator in charge
of this office will report administratively to the Superintendent (i.e., day-to-day
reporting) and will report functionally to JCBE.
[2]
In accordance with KRS 160.380 and other laws governing the
hiring of public school employees, JCBE will create a cabinet-level position with
responsibility for oversight and management of Exceptional Child Education
Services (“ECE”), including special education pursuant to the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, within JCPS, and the Superintendent will appoint to
this position an educator with at least 10 years’ experience in the area of ECE.
This appointment shall be made no later than January 1, 2019.
[3]
KDE may place one or more KDE employees within JCPS to
observe the functioning of the central office and/or individual schools. KDE will
notify JCBE regarding the timing and logistics for the placement of any
observers.
[4]
Until the conclusion of the 2020 Audit as set forth in Section
1.E.[1], KDE may require the Superintendent to make arrangements for
appropriate training or professional development of any JCPS employee with
regard to any area that is directly related to the JCPSFinal CAP and is relevant to
that employee’s duties, upon a finding by the KDE observer(s) identified in
Section 1.D.[3] that such training or professional development is necessary.
[5]
KDE may continue to provide on-site monitoring during state
testing of JCPS schools.
[6]
Until the conclusion of the 2020 Audit as set forth in Section
1.E.[1], the Superintendent or his designee will provide a monthly written and
oral report to the KDE Commissioner or the KDE Commissioner’s designee.
[7]
Until the conclusion of the 2020 Audit as set forth in Section
1.E.[1], the Superintendent or his designee will appear in person to provide a
report to the KBE at its regularly scheduled bi-monthly meetings.
[8]
Until the conclusion of the 2020 Audit as set forth in Section
1.E.[1], as required by KRS 160.350, the current Superintendent, Dr. Martin A.
Pollio, will not be removed from office by JCBE unless the KDE Commissioner
has first approved the grounds for removal.
[9]
JCPS will provide the KDE Commissioner or the KDE
Commissioner’s designee a copy of any change proposed by JCPS, including
JCBE, to a Board Policy or Administrative Procedure within the areas of special
education, physical restraint or seclusion of students, early childhood education,
career and technical education, and facility maintenance and replacement. KDE
shall have 7 working days from submission of the proposed change to review the

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proposal and to provide written comments to the Superintendent. This provision
shall remain applicable until the latter of the conclusion of the 2020 Audit as set
forth in Section 1.E.[1], the final order in the administrative hearing as set forth in
Section 1.E.[2], or the conclusion of any appeal as set forth in Section 1.E.[3]. As
used in this Section 1.D.[9] and Section 1.D.[10], “Board Policy” means a policy
adopted by JCBE pursuant to KRS 160.290(2) and JCBE Board Policy 01.5, and
“Administrative Procedure” means a procedure prepared by the Superintendent
pursuant to JCBE Board Policy 01.51. For avoidance of doubt, the procedures set
forth in this Section 1.D.[9] and Section 1.D.[10] shall apply only to such changes
that are proposed by JCPS. This Section 1.D.[9] and Section 1.D.[10] are not
intended to permit KDE or the KDE Commissioner to propose changes that will
be subject to these procedures.
[10] Any change proposed by JCBE following completion of the
procedure set forth in Section 1.D.[9] to a Board Policy or Administrative
Procedure within the areas of special education, physical restraint or seclusion of
students, and early childhood education shall be sent to the KDE Commissioner
for final review if such change would materially change the plans and processes
for correction of the Audit deficiencies as set forth incould impact any provision
of the Final CAP. The KDE Commissioner shall then have 7 working days to
approve or disapprove such Board Policy or Administrative Procedure, and no
change shall be effective unless approved by the KDE Commissioner. This
provision shall remain applicable until the latter of the conclusion of the 2020
Audit as set forth in Section 1.E.[1], the final order in the administrative hearing
as set forth in Section 1.E.[2], or the conclusion of any appeal as set forth in
Section 1.E.[3].
[11] KDE understands that JCPS is currently reviewing the provisions
of the JCPS student assignment plan. JCPS agrees to continue its review and to
have modifications to the existing student assignment plan in place for the 20202021 school year.
[12] JCPS and KDE agree that the desired outcome of the arrangements
set forth in Sections 1.D.[1] through 1.D.[11] is a process of mutual collaboration
between the Parties that will result in a recommendation by the KDE
Commissioner that no further action be taken at the conclusion of the 2020 Audit
as set forth in Section 1.E.[1]. Accordingly, the Parties agree that any issues that
could prevent the Commissioner from making that recommendation at that time
should be identified and discussed by the Parties as far in advance of the 2020
Audit as possible, in order to give the Superintendent sufficient time to address
those issues.
E.

2020 Audit.

[1]
KDE will initiate a management audit pursuant to KRS 158.780,
KRS 158.785, and 703 KAR 3:205 no earlier than September 15, 2020, and the
KDE Commissioner will issue his report and recommendation with regard to the
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audit within 90 calendar days after the commencement of the audit. Upon
conclusion of the audit, the KDE Commissioner will recommend either that no
further action be taken; that the Jefferson County Public Schools be declared a
“state-assisted” district as set forth in KRS 158.785(4) and KRS 158.785(6); or
that the Jefferson County Public Schools be declared a “state-managed” district as
set forth in KRS 158.785(4) and KRS 158.785(7).
[2]
Upon a recommendation by the KDE Commissioner that the
Jefferson County Public Schools be declared a “state-assisted” or “statemanaged” district, JCBE may request an administrative hearing before the KBE
pursuant to KRS 158.780(1)(c).
[3]
To the extent JCBE disagrees with the KBE’s final order following
the administrative hearing contemplated by Section 1.E.[2] of this Agreement,
JCBE may appeal the final order to the Franklin County, Kentucky Circuit Court
in accordance with KRS 158.780, KRS 158.785, KRS Chapter 13B, and other
provisions of Kentucky law governing litigation in the Kentucky courts.
2.
Attorney Representation. This Agreement is entered into voluntarily by the
Parties who stipulate and agree that they are under no duress or undue influence. The Parties
represent that in the execution of this Agreement, they had the opportunity to consult legal
counsel of their own selection and that said attorneys have reviewed this Agreement, made any
desired changes and advised their respective clients with respect to the advisability of making the
settlement provided herein and of executing this Agreement.
3.
Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement
between the Parties and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous statements, promises,
understandings or agreements, whether written or oral.
4.
Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, modified, or altered at any time
upon the approval of the Parties; however, any such amendment must be in writing and signed
by all Parties in order for such amendment to be of any force and effect.
5.
Partial Invalidity. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is
declared by any court of competent jurisdiction or any administrative law judge to be void or
otherwise invalid, all of the other terms, conditions, and provisions of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect to the same extent as if that part declared void or invalid had never
been incorporated in the Agreement and in such form, the remainder of the Agreement shall
continue to be binding upon the Parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 5., if any provision of Section 1.C.[1], Section 1.D.[9], or Section 1.D.[10] is declared by
any court of competent jurisdiction or any administrative law judge to be void or otherwise
invalid, the audit referenced in Section 1.E.[1] shall begin no sooner than 30 days and no later

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than 90 days after such declaration, irrespective of any post-judgment motion or appeal, except
that under no circumstance shall such an audit begin prior to September 15, 2019.
6.
Applicable Law.
This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the
laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, without regard to conflict of law rules.
7.
Dispute Resolution. In the event of a dispute arising from or related to this
Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:
A.
Prior to pursuing any other legal remedies or dispute resolution
procedures, the Parties will first attempt to resolve, through good-faith discussions between the
Superintendent (or an appropriate designee) and the KDE Commissioner (or an appropriate
designee), any dispute arising from or related to this Agreement. Any agreement reached
between the Superintendent and the KDE Commissioner (or designees) shall be subject to the
approval of the JCBE.
B.
If the Superintendent and the KDE Commissioner (or designees) are
unable to resolve the dispute through good-faith discussions within 15 working days after the
matter has been referred to them, the Parties agree to seek the assistance of a mutually agreed
neutral third party to mediate their dispute.
C.
If mediation does not resolve the dispute, either Party may pursue an
appropriate legal action in the Franklin County, Kentucky Circuit Court. The Parties agree that
the Franklin County, Kentucky Circuit Court shall be the exclusive venue for any legal action
brought to interpret or enforce any terms of this Agreement.
8.
Counterparts.
This Agreement may be signed and executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall
constitute one Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this
Agreement by facsimile or email shall be effective as delivery of an originally executed
counterpart of this Agreement.
9.
No Adverse Construction. The Parties acknowledge that this Agreement has
been prepared by each of them through counsel. In the event any part of this Agreement is found
to be ambiguous, such ambiguity shall not be construed against any Party.
10.
Further Acts. In addition to the acts recited in this Agreement, the Parties agree
to perform, or cause to be performed on the date of this Agreement, or thereafter, any and all

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such further acts as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the actions contemplated herein
and to further the intent of this Agreement.
11.
Authority.
Each person(s) executing this Agreement as an agent or in a
representative capacity warrants that he or she is duly authorized to do so.
12.
Effective Date.
order dismissing the Action.

This Agreement will be effective when KBE issues a final

13.
No Waiver. Failure of a party to insist on strict compliance with any of the
terms, covenants, and conditions of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of such terms,
covenants, and conditions, or of any similar right or power, at any subsequent time. Except as
expressly limited by a specific provision inthe provisions of this Agreement that pertain to audit
timing, KDE shall retain all power and authority granted to and currently exercised by it in its
capacity as an agency of the Commonwealth under all Applicable Law, and the KDE
Commissioner shall retain all power and authority granted to and currently exercised by him in
his capacity as the executive agent of KDE under all Applicable Law.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set
forth below:
KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
By:

____________________________________

Its:

____________________________________

Date: ____________________________________

JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
By:

____________________________________

Its:

____________________________________

Date: ____________________________________

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EXHIBIT A
AGREED RECOMMENDED ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
Commented [A1]: The posture of the proposed agreement has
changed, which necessitates removing Exhibit B. KDE will not
agree to delay a potential settlement until future actions (i.e.,
development of a CAP) occur.

EXHIBIT B

FINAL CAP

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COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION NO. 2018-01
KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

PETITIONER

v.
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF JEFFERSON
COUNTY, KENTUCKY

RESPONDENT

AGREED RECOMMENDED ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
Upon agreement of the Parties, and the Hearing Officer being advised that their dispute has
been resolved;
IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this matter be DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE and stricken from the docket. Each party shall bear his or its own costs and attorney
fees.

____________________________________
HEARING OFFICER
____________________________________
DATE

HAVE SEEN AND AGREE:
_______________________________
Barry L. Dunn
Megan H. Kinsolving
Todd G. Allen
Kentucky Department of Education
300 Sower Blvd., 4th Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

_______________________________
Byron E. Leet
Francis J. Mellen
Allison L. Brown
Julie A. Laemmle
WYATT, TARRANT & COMBS, LLP
500 West Jefferson Street, Suite 2800
Louisville, Kentucky 40202-2898

Counsel for Kentucky Department of Education Counsel for Board of Education of Jefferson
County, Kentucky

 
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