The Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) in Kentucky has found itself at the center of legal and transparency controversies. The school board has been cited for violating the state’s Open Meetings Act, while former employees have filed lawsuits alleging retaliation for reporting financial misconduct.
These issues have raised significant concerns about the district’s governance and financial management, prompting a closer look at the events unfolding within FCPS.
Violations of the Open Meetings Act
The Fayette County school board has been found in violation of Kentucky’s Open Meetings Act twice in the past year. The most recent ruling involved the board’s handling of placing Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins on paid leave. The earlier violation pertained to a 2026 vote to raise the county’s occupational license tax.
The Kentucky Open Meetings Act, enacted in 1974, ensures that the public has the right to observe how decisions are made. The law mandates that public agencies, including school boards, hold open meetings unless specific legal exceptions apply. Meetings must be accessible to the public, with proper notice and the ability to follow along, whether in person or virtually.
The Attorney General’s office is responsible for enforcing these rules. In the case of FCPS, the office reviewed complaints and issued formal rulings when violations were believed to have occurred.
Special Meetings and Closed Sessions
Special meetings, which are not part of an agency’s regular schedule, come with additional requirements. Agencies must provide advance written notice that includes the date, time, place, and agenda. Discussion is limited to items listed on the agenda.
In 2026, the Attorney General ruled that the Fayette County school board failed to meet these requirements when it initially voted to raise the county’s occupational license tax. The board did not publish the required notice or wait the required period before holding the vote, rendering the vote unlawful and void.
Closed sessions also have strict rules. Agencies must announce the general subject of the discussion, the reason for going into a closed session, and the specific legal provision that authorizes it. The board must vote in open session to enter a closed session and cannot take final action in private.
During a June 10, 2026 special meeting, the board entered a nearly three-hour closed session to discuss placing Superintendent Liggins on paid leave but did not provide sufficient detail about why. The Attorney General’s ruling stated that Kentucky law requires more specificity so the public can understand the justification.
Whistleblower Retaliation Claims
A former Fayette County Public Schools employee, Mira Beth Muth, has filed a lawsuit against the school board and Superintendent Liggins, alleging retaliation after reporting suspected financial misconduct. Muth, who served as District Wide Manager, Grants Accounting, claims she was reassigned and eventually had her contract terminated after raising concerns about the district’s financial practices.
According to the lawsuit, Muth reported that the district was not properly distributing or refunding certain grant funds and that money was being moved between district funds in a way that masked financial problems. She also claimed she was discouraged from putting certain information in writing and was told not to contact the Kentucky Department of Education without approval.
Muth’s lawsuit alleges a violation of Kentucky’s whistleblower protections, which bar employers from reprisal against an employee who, in good faith, reports suspected violations of law or suspected “mismanagement, waste, fraud” involving public funds.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief to reinstate Muth and renew her contract for the 2026-27 school year. The filing includes a jury demand.
Broader Financial Fallout
The lawsuit is the latest development in a series of financial management and oversight questions facing FCPS. Muth’s complaint alleges she warned leadership that financial information being presented could be “inaccurate and misleading” because grant accounts were not properly managed or closed out.
Muth is represented by the same attorney handling Ann Sampson-Grimes’s case against the district. Grimes, who served as executive director of budget and financial planning, said the district reassigned her as well, calling the move an illegal demotion and an act of retaliation.
Attorney Brandon Voelker, representing both Muth and Grimes, has highlighted the broader issues within the district, stating that good employees who tried to do their jobs were often targeted and retaliated against.
