Questions raised on McKim's involvement in JCPS superintendent search

Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - As the Jefferson County School Board works to form its superintendent search committee, we have reaction about the WAVE 3 Troubleshooter story which uncovered questions about whether the president of the Jefferson County Teacher's Association is violating state law by attempting to be part of that committee.

The state is asking the JCPS board to let the Attorney General's office offer an opinion whether Brent McKim should be allowed to serve on the selection committee.

In a letter to board chairman Stephen Imhoff, the Office of Education Accountability said it received a complaint about McKim, who was nominated by the teacher's union to fill one of the two teacher's spots on that committee. But the person who complained said McKim isn't a teacher anymore because he is working as JCTA president full time.

McKim wouldn't comment on the accusations or letter, but a member of the JCTA Board of Directors did speak on his behalf.

"I don't understand it, but the bottom line is Brent McKim is a teacher," said Barbara Boyd, a member of the board of directors for the Jefferson County Teachers Association.

So why does it matter? State law says McKim has to be a teacher to serve on the committee in one of the teacher spots. Some teachers have suggested McKim does not share the viewpoints of the teachers he represents and he has specifically come under fire for his allegiance to ousted JCPS superintendent Sheldon Berman.

The Office of Education Accountability has no opinion right now on the issue, but says an investigation is possible if he serves. That's why it wants the AG's office to settle the issue before the selection committee is named. The school board would have to request that investigation, but so far hasn't.

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