LEXINGTON, Ky. – Superintendent Demetrus Liggins of Fayette County Public Schools has charged nearly $152,000 in expenses to taxpayers over a 28-month period, according to an analysis by the Lexington Herald-Leader. The spending includes $28,000 on food, $44,000 on hotels, $8,000 on airfare, nearly 30 trips to destinations across the U.S. — from California to Washington, D.C., and, ironically, a jaw-dropping $446 on Herald-Leader subscriptions.
Records Reveal Broad Use of Public Funds
Receipts reviewed by the Herald-Leader show Liggins’ district procurement card was used for everything from routine office supplies to luxury meals and nationwide travel. The card also covered meals for district staff, teachers, and student groups, as well as table sponsorships at fundraisers totaling more than $5,200.
Twelve receipts showed food orders between $300 and $1,000, with at least eight surpassing that mark. Among them:
- A $1,108 dinner at Fogo de Chão in Los Angeles for 14 staff members.
- A $3,300 luncheon at Sedona Taphouse in Lexington for school principals.
- A $834 steakhouse bill at Morton’s in Louisville.
District spokesperson Miranda Scully said those events were for “professional development and appreciation meetings,” and that similar gatherings predated Liggins’ tenure.
Nationwide Travel and a Texas Transition
Between January 2023 and May 2025, Liggins took 29 board-approved trips, including conferences in San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Salt Lake City. Records also show taxpayers covered $29,204 in airfare and lodging before he officially began his FCPS role in 2021 — costs that district officials said were part of an “executive-level transition” from Texas.
During the two-year span reviewed, Liggins’ travel calendar spanned 76 workdays and included major conferences for school superintendents and education networks. In one instance, FCPS spent nearly $6,900 for him to attend a global education conference in Australia.
Defending the Spending
Facing criticism from lawmakers and parents, Liggins defended his travel as essential professional learning.
“Each conference I attend is carefully chosen and Board-approved, with the goal of bringing back actionable ideas,” Liggins told the Herald-Leader.
However, when asked for examples of measurable impact, he offered no specific results tied to student performance or district operations.
Board Oversight, Public Skepticism
Board Chair Tyler Murphy said the board approves overall budgets and travel requests but doesn’t review every receipt. “No board of education can feasibly review every individual, day-to-day receipt,” he said.
Board Member Amanda Ferguson, however, told reporters she believes Liggins “definitely travels more than previous superintendents.”
Former state education investigator Calvin “Dee” Cranfill said even if the superintendent followed policy, the repeated high-priced meals “should raise eyebrows.”
District Under Audit
As public scrutiny grows, the district is now undergoing multiple audits, including one by State Auditor Allison Ball. FCPS has already stopped buying tables at charity galas, ended staff gift purchases, and is considering caps on meal spending and tighter travel policies.
Scully said the district welcomes the reviews:
“We ask our community to allow these processes to be completed before drawing final conclusions,” she said.
The Broader Budget Backdrop
The spending revelations come as FCPS faces lingering controversy over its $827 million budget, a projected $16 million shortfall, and a now-abandoned plan to raise the local employment tax. The uproar has prompted calls from Frankfort for Liggins’ resignation and a full reassessment of district spending.
Meanwhile, taxpayers may wonder how a district claiming financial strain found room for $2,000 dinners, luxury hotels, and $5,000 leadership programs.
