LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Jefferson County Public Schools leaders faced emotional testimony Tuesday night as parents, students and educators responded to a proposal to close or merge several schools aimed at shoring up the district’s finances.

Kaitlin Webster-Hayes, a Liberty High School student, faced severe bullying at other JCPS schools: "It traumatized me — I've been diagnosed with PTSD since leaving those schools."

She doesn't want to see Liberty closed, as its specialized programs make it the only place where she feels properly supported.

"It's not going to be possible to replicate this in other schools to fit our needs. It's not," she said.

Vanessa Garcia, a graduate of the Georgia Chafee Teenage Parent Program, said, "I probably would have dropped out of high school, taking care of my

See Full Page