JCPS spent thousands of dollars on travel and catering as district makes cuts to curb $188M deficit

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As Jefferson County Public Schools cuts staff and programs, the district still pays tens of thousands of dollars for its superintendent's out-of-town travel and catering.

District credit card records for Superintendent Brian Yearwood and former Superintendent Marty Pollio show how much both superintendents traveled on the taxpayer dime.

In Yearwood's first few months on the job, records show the district paid for four out-of-town conference trips.

In September, the district paid for an overnight stay in Lexington for a superintendent summit
In October, records show nearly $1,000 for a hotel in Philadelphia and about $600 for flights
In December, records show about $300 in flights to Chicago, more than $1,600 for a nearly week stay at a lake-view hotel and registration fees for Yearwood's assistant
In February, the district paid for another conference in Nashville

From July to mid-February, more than $4,000 was charged to Yearwood's district credit card for out-of-district travel. That total doesn't include thousands more in conference dues and fees.

JCPS said most of the travel was approved before Yearwood arrived.

"As part of my contractual obligations, I have to grow and I have to learn," Yearwood said. "I will continue to do that as superintendent."

Yearwood's contract encourages professional development on the district's dime. And he said there is a return on the investment in his growth.

"... looking at trainings available for our leaders within our schools, looking at various instructional models that exist so that we can better address the needs of our students," Yearwood said.

As cuts hit schools, the district said it's now limiting travel.

"We said no more than about four trips for individuals and we have adhered to that," Yearwood said.

In an email to WDRB, the district said the four-trip limit is a "guardrail" and not a "rigid cap."

Under Pollio, records show travel across the country. In 2024 alone, records show charges for flights, hotels and conferences in Austin, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Diego, Cambridge, Dallas, Omaha and Frankfort. In 2025, before retiring, records show more travel to Phoenix, New Orleans and Washington, D.C.

Board members also traveled to conferences in Phoenix, Baltimore and Lexington.

From 2018 to Pollio's departure, there were more than $100,000 in charges on Pollio's district credit card. More than $16,000 of that is labeled as "out of district travel."

Pollio didn't respond to a request for comment.

Both superintendents earned $350,000 salaries. Yearwood's contract includes a $750 monthly car allowance, up to $7,500 in moving expenses and temporary housing at $2,500 a month for three months. Pollio had the same car stipend.

District spending also included catering for board meetings. Receipts show about $600 spent per meeting for roughly 15 meetings a year. Yearwood believes this is worth the cost to taxpayers.

"... I think that's something that hopefully would encourage them, just that small nourishment," he said.

On their own, the expenses are small compared to a $188 million deficit. But together, the records show how taxpayer money is spent as cuts hit classrooms and raise questions about what spending is essential when every dollar counts.