LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky's attorney general has ruled that the Fayette County Board of Education violated the Open Meetings Act when it failed to provide adequate notice before entering closed session during a June 10 special meeting involving Superintendent Demetrus Liggins, though the state said the closed session itself was legally authorized.

In a written decision released July 15, Attorney General Russell Coleman found that the board violated the law when it entered closed session without first providing sufficient explanation in open session. The board announced only that it would discuss a "resignation notice" before citing state law authorizing personnel discussions in private, the attorney general found. State law requires school boards to specify whether closed-session personnel discussions will involve appointment, discipline, or dismissal of an employee.

Liggins sent an email June 9 to Board Chair Tyler Murphy saying it was time to "step away" from his superintendent role and pursue a separation agreement, though Liggins later disputed whether that constituted a resignation. The board met the following evening and placed Liggins on paid leave while naming Assistant Superintendent Bill Bradford as interim superintendent.

Despite the procedural violation, Coleman's office concluded the closed session was justified under state law authorizing discussions about potential discipline or dismissal. The attorney general also said the board did not violate state law by reaching a consensus in the closed session, provided it took final action in open session with votes recorded—which it did.

Coleman noted his office lacks jurisdiction to void the board's actions. Liggins' attorneys have said they may pursue legal remedies in circuit court to reverse the decisions.

This marks the second open meetings violation found against the Fayette County school board within a year, following a previous violation in connection with a vote to raise the occupational licensing tax in 2025.