JCPS students have been successful under the leadership of Pollio and the school board

A recent one op-ed by David Jones Jr. reminds us that while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, they cannot make up their own facts. While Jefferson County Public Schools, like all school districts, faces challenges and room for improvement, the progress our students have made under Superintendent Marty Pollio and this Board of Education is undeniable. Our graduation rate has gone from 82% to 88%, and the gap between white and black students has largely been erased. Our postsecondary readiness rate has gone from 50% to 82%, with the gap between black and white students cut in half.

One reason for this success is Dr. Pollios Plan for the future statewhich the board wholeheartedly supported and has worked with the superintendent to implement. Anyone would be hard-pressed to say he hasn’t been given broad authority to hire whomever he wants and to implement his vision, which has included:

• An updated one school assignment planwhich gives every student the opportunity to attend a school close to home and ensures that resources flow to the schools and students with the greatest need.

• The rollout of Academies of Louisvillea career and technical education structure in all high schools that is a model for other districts. The relatively new Middle School Explore program “steps up” to high schools and gives middle school students a taste of different careers before choosing a career path that interests them in high school.

• Significant investment in school facilities, including new middle schools in West Louisville and east of the Snyder Freeway.

• District-wide reading and math curriculum to ensure that even students who change schools will see the same textbooks and lessons, reducing learning disruption for our most vulnerable students.

• The expansion of district-administered school safety programs, including school safety administrators, the district’s own police force, and weapon detection systems in all high schools and (soon) middle schools in JCPS.

• Psychiatric professionals and school nurses in all schools.

• All-to-one access to learning units so that every student can access their educational resources at any time.

• Working with community partners like Evolve502 to ensure every JCPS graduate has free tuition for their first two years of college.

OPINION: JCPS isn’t perfect, but splitting it up isn’t how we make it better

All of this happened in the midst of a global pandemic, with data showing that JCPS was one of the best districts in Kentucky and among its urban peers for educational recovery.

This board, including its newly elected members, will be laser-focused on electing a superintendent who can help our students achieve even more, with the necessary leadership qualities to get them there. But we also cannot forget that the board members are elected by the people, in contrast to a company board, where they are usually hand-picked by the CEO.

Letters: The next JCPS superintendent won’t encounter a district on fire thanks to Pollio

We will note that Mr. Jones lost his last race for school board in part because, as board chairman, he failed to properly oversee and hold a former superintendent accountable. We will not make the same mistake. We owe it to the taxpayers to ensure their priorities are carried out by the next superintendent because they are our bosses, not Frankfort politicians.

Corrie Shull is the chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Education and James Craig is the vice chairman.

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This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: Statement: JCPS students have been successful under Pollio, the school board