LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

The Jefferson County Public Schools board approved its current working budget Tuesday as the district confronts a $188 million deficit, setting up difficult decisions for the 2026–2027 school year.

Superintendent Brian Yearwood said the district will identify about $100 million in reductions soon.

“By the time you come around to actually finalizing things in January, we will be bringing these cuts forward. Because if we don’t, then what happens is a domino effect. Instead of being able to do things like payroll and other expenditures, we’ll have to look at cutting those, and we don’t want to do that,” said Yearwood.

Yearwood cited several factors behind the district’s financial condition. District leaders said they are not in the current position because of the board.

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