Fayette County Public School Board Meeting 1/27/25

On Monday, January 27, 2025, the Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education in Lexington, Kentucky—Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy’s hometown—voted to renew the contract of current superintendent Bro. Dr. Demetrus Liggins (Alpha Beta Lambda ‘24), who has held the position since July 2021, will continue in his role for an additional four years.

Despite the Board’s decision, the road to renewing Bro. Dr. Liggins’s contract was not without controversy. Weeks before the FCPS School Board voted, an online Change.org petition demanding his dismissal began circulating. Initiated by a FCPS parent, the petition falsely claimed that Bro. Dr. Liggins had mismanaged public funds and that the schools under his care were underperforming. Once the widespread misinformation became apparent, the members of the ABL Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. moved quickly—not only to debunk these false claims but also to organize an effort to rally support and publicly defend Bro. Dr. Demetrus Liggins’s character and reputation.

Bro. Roy Woods Sr. ’77, a former chairperson of the FCPS Equity Council Committee, described Alpha Phi Alpha’s notable tradition of pursuing academic achievement and social justice and how, under Bro. Dr. Liggins’s supervision, African American, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students in his district have attained educational success. “We, as members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., stand with Dr. Liggins and implore you to renew his contract so he can continue to lead our district and our students can continue to receive an education beyond expectation,”

Brother Reverend Dr. Danny Anthony Everett (Xi Tau Lambda ‘04), who delivered remarks on behalf of the FCPS Equity Council Committee, noted that Bro. Dr. Liggins has an “unwavering commitment to advocate for all children” and “has proven to be a dynamic and forward-thinking leader, steering our district with a clear vision rooted in equity, academic excellence, and community collaboration.”

As FCPS superintendent, Bro. Dr. Demetrus Liggins leads over 42,000 students and 8,000 employees. Under his guidance, FCPS teachers receive the highest starting salaries in Kentucky, and the minimum hourly wage for employees has more than doubled. FCPS Board Chairman Tyler Murphy also notes that under Bro. Dr. Liggins’s leadership, FCPS students continue to outperform their peers in other school districts.