LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Fayette County Board of Education violated Kentucky’s Open Meetings Act during a December video-teleconference meeting in which members voted on key changes affecting the district’s single-gender STEM academies and the future of The Stables program at the Kentucky Horse Park, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office ruled.
In a decision issued Jan. 13, the Attorney General found the board complied with state law on meeting notice requirements, but violated provisions governing video teleconferences when a board member briefly disappeared from the video feed while public business was being discussed and when the board did not suspend the meeting during technical interruptions as required by statute.
The ruling stems from a complaint filed by Nikole Gieske, who alleged three violations connected to the Fayette school board’s Dec. 18, 2025 meeting. She argued the district did not properly identify the meeting as a teleconference, that a board member was not visible on camera during discussion of official business, and that the board continued business despite interruptions in the video/audio broadcast.
The Attorney General rejected the notice claim, finding the board produced a meeting notice labeled as a “NOTICE OF VIDEO TELECONFERENCE MEETING,” which satisfied Kentucky’s requirements.
But the office sided with Gieske on the remaining two issues. In its response, Fayette County Public Schools acknowledged a board member experienced connectivity issues “for two brief periods” — each less than a minute — during discussion of action items involving Rise STEM Academy for Girls and George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys.
Kentucky law requires that members participating by video teleconference remain visible on camera at all times public business is discussed, and that any interruption in the video or audio broadcast triggers a suspension of the meeting until the connection is restored. The Attorney General said the board violated both requirements.
What the board voted on
The Dec. 18 meeting included major votes tied to Fayette County Public Schools’ broader facility review initiative, “Project Right Size, Bright Future.”
Rise/Carver STEM academies: According to FCPS, the board supported Superintendent Demetrus Liggins’ multi-year facilities plan for the two single-gender elementary STEM academies. Under the plan, George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys would temporarily relocate into a wing of the new Rise building beginning in fall 2026 while the district continues seeking a long-term Carver site.
WEKU reported the vote passed 3-1, with board chair Tyler Murphy and members Amy Green and Penny Christian voting in favor. Member Amanda Ferguson was absent.
The Stables: The board also supported Liggins’ recommendation regarding The Stables, an alternative program at the Kentucky Horse Park. FCPS said the district will seek alternative funding to continue the program, warning it could be closed after the 2026-27 school year if new funding is not secured. WKYT reported the board voted unanimously to begin seeking outside funding for the program beginning in 2027-28.
The Attorney General’s decision can be appealed to circuit court.