Frustrations rise as FCPS students remain out of the classroom

On January 15, 2025By Littum

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Fayette County Public Schools decided just minutes before 6 p.m. 5 Tuesday to take another NTI day.

District leaders were up at 2:30 Tuesday morning checking the roads and felt they were not safe enough for buses to be out.

FCPS students have not been in a classroom since 2024. School leaders have said getting students back into the classroom is a top priority.

They told us Monday that they are happy with the work city crews have done, even though many side streets are still too dangerous for buses to drive on.

On Tuesday morning, Lexington Vice Mayor Dan Wu held a press conference to announce a new task force; however, we went to find out why so many side streets are still not clear in the city.

Wu echoed what we’ve heard about Fayette County’s decision to keep students home, saying some roads simply aren’t ready yet.

“This call is made by Fayette County Public Schools, but of course we always coordinate to make sure the streets are clear,” Wu said. “So, as most people can see right now, most of our main streets and the major and secondary streets are all plowed; things are melted, but some of the smaller streets, some of the cul-de-sacs, residential areas and especially country roads are the hardest to tackle .”

The district has not yet said whether FCPS students will be back in the classroom Wednesday. However, the district sent this letter to parents late Tuesday morning:

Dear Fayette County Elementary School Families:

Early this afternoon our bus drivers will warm up their buses, remove any remaining snow and leave the bus garage to test our usual bus routes.

This test drive will give us the best possible overview of the road conditions and how they can affect the safety of bus journeys.

If you see our bus drivers out and about, please give them a friendly honk or wave.