LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As Jefferson County Public Schools cuts workers and packages, the district nonetheless pays tens of 1000’s of {dollars} for its superintendent’s out-of-town journey and catering.
District bank card data for Superintendent Brian Yearwood and former Superintendent Marty Pollio present how a lot each superintendents traveled on the taxpayer dime.
In Yearwood’s first few months on the job, data present the district paid for 4 out-of-town convention journeys.
- In September, the district paid for an in a single day keep in Lexington for a superintendent summit
- In October, data present practically $1,000 for a lodge in Philadelphia and about $600 for flights
- In December, data present about $300 in flights to Chicago, greater than $1,600 for a virtually week keep at a lake-view lodge and registration charges for Yearwood’s assistant
- In February, the district paid for one more convention in Nashville
From July to mid-February, greater than $4,000 was charged to Yearwood’s district bank card for out-of-district journey. That whole does not embody 1000’s extra in convention dues and charges.
JCPS stated a lot of the journey was permitted earlier than Yearwood arrived.
“As part of my contractual obligations, I have to grow and I have to learn,” Yearwood stated. “I will continue to do that as superintendent.”
Yearwood’s contract encourages skilled improvement on the district’s dime. And he stated there’s a return on the funding in his progress.
“… looking at trainings available for our leaders within our schools, looking at various instructional models that exist so that we can better address the needs of our students,” Yearwood stated.
As cuts hit colleges, the district stated it is now limiting journey.
“We said no more than about four trips for individuals and we have adhered to that,” Yearwood stated.
In an electronic mail to WDRB, the district stated the four-trip restrict is a “guardrail” and never a “rigid cap.”
Under Pollio, data present journey throughout the nation. In 2024 alone, data present fees for flights, inns and conferences in Austin, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Diego, Cambridge, Dallas, Omaha and Frankfort. In 2025, earlier than retiring, data present extra journey to Phoenix, New Orleans and Washington, D.C.
Board members additionally traveled to conferences in Phoenix, Baltimore and Lexington.
From 2018 to Pollio’s departure, there have been greater than $100,000 in fees on Pollio’s district bank card. More than $16,000 of that’s labeled as “out of district travel.”
Pollio did not reply to a request for remark.
Both superintendents earned $350,000 salaries. Yearwood’s contract features a $750 month-to-month automotive allowance, as much as $7,500 in shifting bills and momentary housing at $2,500 a month for 3 months. Pollio had the identical automotive stipend.
District spending additionally included catering for board conferences. Receipts present about $600 spent per assembly for roughly 15 conferences a yr. Yearwood believes that is price the fee to taxpayers.
“… I think that’s something that hopefully would encourage them, just that small nourishment,” he stated.
On their very own, the bills are small in comparison with a $188 million deficit. But collectively, the data present how taxpayer cash is spent as cuts hit lecture rooms and lift questions on what spending is crucial when each greenback counts.
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