LEXINGTON, Ky. — During a planning work session on February 9, the Fayette County Board of Education received findings from an independent investigation into Superintendent Demetrus Liggins' handling of the district's budget and financial matters.

The investigation, conducted by attorney Leigh Latherow of VanAntwerp Attorneys, found that Liggins violated school board policy and failed to properly inform board members of the district's financial situation. The investigation did not find that Liggins intentionally withheld contingency fund information from the board, though the findings indicated inadequate oversight of budgeting and spending matters.

The inquiry stemmed from concerns that emerged following discovery of a $16 million budget shortfall in the district last year. The board voted unanimously to commission the investigation in September 2025 following allegations made by former Budget Director Ann Sampson-Grimes, who filed a separate lawsuit claiming retaliation for raising financial concerns.

Board Chair Tyler Murphy said the board would "carefully consider the investigation findings and anticipates making a determination on appropriate corrective measures in the coming weeks." Board members highlighted the seriousness of the matter and acknowledged community interest in the district's financial management practices.

The work session also featured a presentation on professional learning initiatives. District administrators described new professional learning networks launched this school year, which provide collaborative opportunities for teachers in specialized roles—such as physical education, fine arts, and multilingual education—to work together across schools. Feedback from teachers indicated the networks are working well, with ratings above 4 on a five-point scale.

During public comment, community members raised concerns about the district's budget process and governance. One speaker questioned how the general fund property tax collections could exceed budget targets by 7 percent while building fund collections remained at only 30 percent of budget, suggesting the district may be shifting building fund dollars to cover general operations.

The board also voted unanimously to approve consent items including professional leave requests and extended field trip approvals. The planning session set the stage for formal board action at a later meeting scheduled for February 23.