Pollio says he’s learned a lot in his years as superintendent
February 20, 2024 - Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is making progress and this is no time to take a step backward - that was the message from Dr. Marty Pollio in his 2024 State of the District Address. In his speech before about 200 people at The Olmsted, Pollio trumpeted the multiple successes JCPS and its students have achieved and continue to achieve.
“It was Barack Obama who said ‘If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress,’” Pollio said. ”We are on that right path and we are making progress.” If we stay on this path and not get diverted to other paths as a community we will see success like we have never seen before.”
Pollio cited his Future State initiative which has:
Already resulted in construction of four new schools with 20 more scheduled to be built in the next ten years.
Increased investment in high poverty schools.
Given families in West Louisville and other Choice Zone areas the option of attending school closer to home.
Placed new technology in every child’s hands.
The District has also instituted a new, district-wide literacy curriculum this school year, which Pollio said is already returning dividends in terms of student learning.
“The way we are teaching and focusing on literacy is a game changer for us, especially for our kindergarten and first graders,” Pollio said.
Using the theme of “What I’ve learned during my seven years as superintendent,” Pollio said he understands that engaging learning opportunities offered by the Academies of Louisville and the Explore program in middle schools is a key to experiential learning and has been a factor in JCPS achieving its highest-ever graduation rate and narrowing the achievement gap between Black and white graduates.
Pollio said he’s also learned that JCPS having its own police department with officers specially trained to deal with students is important as are school buildings that have extra security and make students and staff feel safe.
The superintendent pointed out that the District now has more than 19,000 multilingual learners (MLLs), 6,000 more than just four years ago. While praising the culture and diversity MLLs bring to the Louisville community, Pollio said it’s a challenge to provide enough support, including translators, for students whose primary language is not English. Other challenges facing JCPS include a shortage of teachers and bus drivers - both national issues which are impacting JCPS.
Pollio also pushed back at what he called “the narrative you’re hearing out of Frankfort.” Pollio countered calls for a seventh audit or review of JCPS in the past seven years, pointing to data which shows JCPS’ total budget is similar to the second largest district in the state on a per pupil basis and its per pupil spending on central office administration is the lowest in the state.
“Our budget is not out of line with any other district in the state of Kentucky,” Pollio said. “If they call for an audit, we’ve got plenty of them for you.”
Pollio told the audience there are many other “misconceptions” about JCPS but that should not divert attention away from the impressive gains and work being done every day in JCPS schools.
“If we stay on this path and not get diverted to other paths as a community we will see success like we have never seen before,” he said. “The future is very bright for the students of JCPS.”
The State of the District event raised more than $42,000 for the JCPS Employees Scholarship Fund from the sponsors of the program and attendees.