Officials in Fayette County Public Schools violated the Kentucky Open Records Act when they failed to respond on time to a request about costs related to the school district’s rebranding, the state’s top law enforcement official announced Monday.
It was the second such ruling by Attorney General Russell Coleman in the past few weeks. He also ruled this month that Lexington’s Cassidy Elementary School-Based Decision-Making Council violated the Kentucky Open Meetings Act when it failed to properly document votes while cutting art courses.
In the latest ruling, issued last week but announced Monday, Coleman said resident Jerry Grooms submitted a request to the school district on June 4 for “all documents related to rebranding costs” related to FCPS’s new slogan.
On June 18 having received no response from FCPS, Grooms appealed to Coleman’s office.
Under state law, a public agency “shall determine within five business days” whether to comply with the request and shall notify in writing the person making the request, within the five day period, of its decision, the ruling said.
The ruling said FCPS received Grooms’ original request on June 4, 2024, but did not respond to it until after the appeal was initiated. “Thus, FCPS violated the Act,” the ruling said.
FCPS stated that “requested records have been delivered via electronic mail” and that the “issue is now moot,” but Coleman’s ruling disagreed.
In early July, Grooms shared with the Herald-Leader a document from the school district that showed the total costs for the FCPS logo rebranding in 2023 was $80,560. 75.
Grooms on Monday said he didn’t have additional comment.
Fayette district spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith, in response to the ruling, said, “There was no ill intent. FCPS informed the AG that we missed the response deadline by 4 days due to a missed request for an extension. We have since responded and this request has been satisfied. “
Rebranding
In a July 2023 statement, district officials said the district’s 2022-27 Strategic Plan calls for “A New Way Forward” – “one where we take everything that already makes Fayette County Public Schools great in a new direction. As part of that journey, FCPS has a new look that reflects movement and a commitment to continuous progress.”
Officials said a new brand was essential for the school district to communicate a world-class educational experience and present a compelling image. It is more than just a logo, colors, and fonts — “it embodies the idea that FCPS is greater than the sum of its parts.”
The former slogan was, “It’s about kids.”
“At FCPS, children are at the heart of everything we do, and that will never change,” the 2023 statement said.” We are committed to challenging and nurturing the minds of our students as they are the ones who will create a better future. Our new brand goes beyond a slogan to highlight the many ways we focus on students and the lasting impact of an environment where every child can thrive and achieve greatness.”
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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