Board Buzz: 2026 Graduations Lineup Set

March 26, 2026

We offer a recap of the March action meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education as part of our commitment to providing regular updates for FCPS student families, our employees, and the community.

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Top Takeaway: 2026 Graduations Lineup Set

Fayette County Public Schools has released the schedule for 2026 high school commencement ceremonies at Rupp Arena. Graduating seniors and families will receive details and specific instructions from their school. 

Thursday, June 4

• 10 a.m. -- Frederick Douglass
• 2 p.m. -- Henry Clay
• 6 p.m. -- Lafayette

Friday, June 5

• 10 a.m. -- Tates Creek
• 2 p.m. -- Bryan Station
• 6 p.m. -- Paul Laurence Dunbar

Meanwhile, the official last day of classes for students (June 3) is still tentative as district leaders wait to make sure the wintry weather is really over before confirming all required make-up dates.

Superintendent Demetrus Liggins announced the graduation dates during the school board's March 26 action meeting.

School Name: Helen Caise Wade Elementary

The board agreed that the new school under construction on Greendale Road will be called Helen Caise Wade Elementary. Wade became the first Black student to integrate FCPS when she enrolled in a summer class at Lafayette High in 1955. A graduate of the original Frederick Douglass High School and Kentucky State University, she taught for decades in Ohio.

Board Chair Tyler Murphy saluted Wade and her continuing legacy as the board voted 5-0.

"I can't tell you -- I am so happy. It's not just because of me," a tearful Wade said from the audience, paying tribute to her parents. "We went through some hard times, and I had no idea that one day I would be standing here and thanking you. I didn't realize I was making history."

Wade urged the board members to stay the course, adding, "Just work to educate our children -- I don't care if they're black, white, purple, or red. Take care of them!"

• View the Naming Committee's Presentation
• Follow the Construction Progress

Scheduled for completion in June 2027, this school will house up to 750 students in grades PreK-5.

Student Spotlight: Winburn's Jazz Band

Fine Arts Director Katherine Lowther introduced a recorded performance by Winburn Middle School's Jazz Warriors, presenting the Journey hit "Don't Stop Believin'." The jazz band, which has about three dozen members, meets once a week as an extracurricular club.

Kids' Champion: March Honoree

During the Superintendent’s Report, the school board saluted this month's Kids’ Champion -- Joshua Wilson of The Learning Center.

• Read More about Wilson

 

Valuable Investment: Toyota Driving Possibilities

The board heard an update on the Toyota Driving Possibilities grant. FCPS staffer Carrie Rogers and Kim Sweazy of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Kentucky shared highlights of how this workforce development initiative benefits students in our six participating schools.

• View the Toyota Presentation

Community Partner: Grace United Church

Board members heard how the FCPS partnership with Grace United Church impacts our students. Examples include Tuesday Talks for families to connect, community pop-up events, student outreach efforts, and a coalition of faith leaders and community supporters coordinating ways to meet the needs in the Tates Creek and Millcreek area on the south side of town.

• View the Partnership Presentation

Other Agenda Highlights

The night's consent agenda included approval of an Assessment Department recommendation to use the i-Ready system as our district's universal screener in student testing.

There was no finance report this month because of the reorganization and hiring of Interim Chief Financial Officer Kyna Koch. She will present the February and March reports at April's regular meeting.

The agenda contained six written reports, including the running list of board-approved contracts, the personnel changes for March, the monthly construction report, the school activity funds report, the interfund transfer report, and the budget transfer report.

Need More Details?

For more information about the latest meeting:

• Skim the March 26 agenda.
• Watch the video recording.
• Read the official minutes, which will be posted within the agenda of the next board meeting.

How to Follow Board Meetings

Community members may attend the school board's planning sessions and action meetings at the John D. Price Administration Building, 450 Park Place, where public comment is welcome. The monthly action meetings are also livestreamed on the FCPS YouTube channel and the district's Video on Demand service.

Additionally, the Board Meeting Buzz -- which is emailed to our student families and staff -- is archived on the district website as "recap" under Agendas & Records.