Latest news with #MartyPollio
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JCPS poised to accept Yum! Brands' offer to donate its Louisville campus
This story has been updated to add comments from a press conference. Outgoing Jefferson County Public Schools superintendent Marty Pollio said JCPS is poised to accept Yum! Brands' donation of its Louisville campus for a consolidated administrative building. In a June 23 news release, Yum! Brands announced it offered to donate its Louisville campus to JCPS. This donation would allow the district to use the profits from selling their existing buildings to improve schools and potentially build new ones, Pollio said at a press conference later in the day. The Jefferson County Board of Education must approve the donation before it is final, and a vote is expected to take place at the board's June 24 meeting. 'This generous donation is a game-changer for JCPS. Our current administrative buildings require significant renovations that are cost-prohibitive,' Pollio said in a prepared statement. 'This will allow us to consolidate several district buildings into one, allowing for stronger collaboration and communication.' Tell us what you think: Submit your letter to the editor here. The 11.6-acre Yum! Brands campus, located at 1441 Gardiner Lane, has two office buildings. One is a three-story, 88,000-square-foot facility built in 1970 and nicknamed the 'white house' in honor of its resemblance to the U.S. president's residence. The other is a five-story, 225,000-square-foot office building built in 1986. Pollio said the relocation process would take at least 12 months, if not longer. The potential donation comes at a fitting time for both entities. JCPS has been considering the sale of three administrative buildings — the Van Hoose and LAM buildings on Newburg Road and the C.B. Young Center on Crittenden Drive — to fund the consolidation of administrative operations, The Courier Journal reported. JCPS spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said the district still intends to sell those facilities, which Pollio previously estimated could bring the district a collective $25 million. The largest chunk would come from the C.B. Young Center, which he said has been sought by the nearby Kentucky Exposition Center. "This donation from Yum! Brands is the equivalent of a brand-new elementary school in JCPS that we will be able to build as a result of this," Pollio said at the press conference. Meanwhile, Yum! Brands has been mulling moving its corporate headquarters. The company has not announced a final decision about where it will move, but properties in downtown Louisville and the East End have been floated as possibilities, The Courier Journal reported. Yum! Brands announced it would be moving the KFC division of the company out of its Louisville headquarters and to Plano, Texas, roughly three months prior to announcing the possibility of moving its headquarters. 'This donation reflects Yum!'s long-standing commitment to Louisville and its belief in the power of education to unlock opportunity,' said David Gibbs, Chief Executive Officer of Yum! Brands. 'As we explore options for our Louisville headquarters, this moment created a unique opportunity to collaborate with JCPS. While we haven't made a final decision on the exact location of our new Louisville offices, we're evaluating several possibilities across the city and expect to determine the best path forward in the coming months.' This story may be updated. Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@ or @bkillian72 on X. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS is poised to accept Yum! Brands' donated headquarters
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Days before retirement, JCPS' Pollio receives final evaluation. Here's what it said
Jefferson County Public School Superintendent Marty Pollio is days away from leaving the role, and on his way out, board members gave him an overall positive evaluation for his last year leading Kentucky's largest district. The evaluation, his eighth during his tenure, was presented and approved during an executive session June 24, followed by Pollio's last Jefferson County Board of Education meeting — where an audience that included his parents watched a video tribute to his successes over the years. That video highlighted accomplishments that included the launch of the Academies of Louisville program; the opening of W.E.B. DuBois Academy; the construction of new schools and early childhood centers; renovations at the historical Academy @ Shawnee; and the presentation of several student scholarships since Pollio created the Employee Sponsored Student Scholarship Fund in 2019. Pollio is leaving the district with an evaluation that largely mirrors his first six and is a bounce back from last year's review, when he was dinged for bus transportation failures that scarred the 2022-2023 school year. The board gave Pollio the top two ratings on the majority of standards evaluated. He received a rating of "exemplary" for his cultural, collaborative and influential leadership and "accomplished" for his strategic, human resources and managerial leadership. For instructional leadership, the board split the standard into two sections for the first time. For one part, Pollio earned an "accomplished" rank, but for the second, which particularly pointed to student outcomes-focused governance, Pollio earned his only "developing" rank in the evaluation. Board member comments related to the standard noted that transportation issues and "the persistence of the 9:40 start time are barriers to student learning that need to be addressed," and the increasing rates of non-English speaking students is negatively impacting proficiency goals. Pollio became acting superintendent of JCPS in 2017 before taking on the role permanently in 2018. His initial contract was set to end in 2022, but the board reappointed him for another term in 2021. He leaves JCPS as one of the longest-tenured superintendents of a large urban district in the country. More: JCPS poised to accept Yum! Brands' offer to donate its Louisville campus Following the June 24 board meeting, Pollio said his departure comes not just after eight years as superintendent, but after 28 years within JCPS, where he's also served as a teacher, coach and principal. While he joked he will leave JCPS with "a lot of scars," Pollio also noted the many fond memories he will take with him. Asked what he is proud of, he pointed to the strategic plan he and his team began developing when he took the role, which outlined several initiatives that were set to be in place by this year. Much of that has been implemented, even if still in the early stages, with Pollio pointing out that progress was made despite a global pandemic. If the next superintendent, who starts July 1, and the board continue to build on the work that's been started, Pollio said, students' educational outcomes will improve. "I'm really proud of where we are as a district, but there's still a lot of work to do," he said. JCPS' Superintendent Marty Pollio Evaluation by Krista Johnson on Scribd Krista Johnson covers education and children. Have story ideas or questions? Contact her at kjohnson3@ and subscribe to her newsletter. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio gets final evaluation before retiring
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ivy Tech hires Louisville superintendent as its new president
Ivy Tech Community College has hired the superintendent of Kentucky's largest K-12 school district as its new president. Marty Pollio, set to retire as the superintendent of Louisville-based Jefferson County Public Schools, will start his role as president of Indiana's statewide Ivy Tech system July 1. He replaces Sue Ellspermann, Ivy Tech's ninth president and a former lieutenant governor, who is retiring at the end of June. Pollio's appointment and three-year contract was approved by the college's board Wednesday afternoon. "I'm excited to get into postsecondary," Pollio, who has worked for JCPS for 30 years, told Louisville's Courier Journal. "I've done a lot of work on workforce development — between being a principal and doing this — so I think it's a good next step for me." Ivy Tech has 45 locations across Indiana, with its central office located in Indianapolis. The school, which grants associate degrees, collectively has more than 175,000 students — a good chunk of whom are high school students enrolled in dual credit courses. Pollio said his goal will be to continue to grow the college's dual credit program and to "really align the work being done at Ivy Tech with the workforce in Indiana and even Kentucky." In order to do that, Pollio pointed to JCPS' Academies of Louisville program, indicating he'd like to take that model into K-12 schools across Indiana. JCPS launched the model in 2017. The wide-range of academy programs gives high school students career-themed lessons and, in some cases, allows them to earn industry certifications before graduation. This could be helpful to Ivy Tech's goal of combatting the state's workforce shortage in response to a recent report from the college that noted Indiana's decline in skilled talent, particularly in the advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, health care, and technology fields. Pollio announced he'd be retiring from JCPS in September. Having spent the last seven years as superintendent, he is one of the longest-tenured superintendents of any large urban district in the country, according to the Council for Great City Schools. When he received a call about Ivy Tech, he said he wasn't sure about going into postsecondary education, but "the more I started looking at the opportunity and the impact that I can have on both kids and adults alike, it really piqued my interest." Other aspects of Pollio's lasting impact on JCPS include the district's new strategic plan, coined "Future State." That plan included expanding school choice for families through the district's new student assignment plan — though JCPS' decision to end magnet transportation for most students has drawn criticism among those who previously supported the new assignment plan. Under Pollio's leadership, the district has also launched numerous large capital improvement projects, increased access to technology, increased funding for some schools serving high-needs populations, created an internal police department, and aligned reading and math curriculums across all K-8 schools. "As a superintendent, it would have been easier to keep the status quo. Change is very hard," Pollio wrote in his retirement announcement. "But I am extremely proud that we made the decision to make the most substantial changes in the history of JCPS despite many challenges. I truly believe that these changes will result in decades of improved outcomes for our students." The district is still looking for a replacement for Pollio. Last week, six candidates were identified as finalists from a pool of 34 applicants. Krista Johnson covers education and children for The Courier Journal. Have story ideas or questions? Contact her at kjohnson3@ and subscribe to her newsletter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ivy Tech's new president: Marty Pollio, Louisville superintendent
Indianapolis Star
30-04-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Ivy Tech hires Louisville superintendent as its new president
Ivy Tech Community College has hired the superintendent of Kentucky's largest K-12 school district as its new president. Marty Pollio, set to retire as the superintendent of Louisville-based Jefferson County Public Schools, will start his role as president of Indiana's statewide Ivy Tech system July 1. He replaces Sue Ellspermann, Ivy Tech's ninth president and a former lieutenant governor, who is retiring at the end of June. Pollio's appointment and three-year contract was approved by the college's board Wednesday afternoon. "I'm excited to get into postsecondary," Pollio, who has worked for JCPS for 30 years, told Louisville's Courier Journal. "I've done a lot of work on workforce development — between being a principal and doing this — so I think it's a good next step for me." Ivy Tech has 45 locations across Indiana, with its central office located in Indianapolis. The school, which grants associate degrees, collectively has more than 175,000 students — a good chunk of whom are high school students enrolled in dual credit courses. Pollio said his goal will be to continue to grow the college's dual credit program and to "really align the work being done at Ivy Tech with the workforce in Indiana and even Kentucky." In order to do that, Pollio pointed to JCPS' Academies of Louisville program, indicating he'd like to take that model into K-12 schools across Indiana. JCPS launched the model in 2017. The wide-range of academy programs gives high school students career-themed lessons and, in some cases, allows them to earn industry certifications before graduation. This could be helpful to Ivy Tech's goal of combatting the state's workforce shortage in response to a recent report from the college that noted Indiana's decline in skilled talent, particularly in the advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, health care, and technology fields. Pollio announced he'd be retiring from JCPS in September. Having spent the last seven years as superintendent, he is one of the longest-tenured superintendents of any large urban district in the country, according to the Council for Great City Schools. When he received a call about Ivy Tech, he said he wasn't sure about going into postsecondary education, but "the more I started looking at the opportunity and the impact that I can have on both kids and adults alike, it really piqued my interest." Other aspects of Pollio's lasting impact on JCPS include the district's new strategic plan, coined "Future State." That plan included expanding school choice for families through the district's new student assignment plan — though JCPS' decision to end magnet transportation for most students has drawn criticism among those who previously supported the new assignment plan. Under Pollio's leadership, the district has also launched numerous large capital improvement projects, increased access to technology, increased funding for some schools serving high-needs populations, created an internal police department, and aligned reading and math curriculums across all K-8 schools. "As a superintendent, it would have been easier to keep the status quo. Change is very hard," Pollio wrote in his retirement announcement. "But I am extremely proud that we made the decision to make the most substantial changes in the history of JCPS despite many challenges. I truly believe that these changes will result in decades of improved outcomes for our students." The district is still looking for a replacement for Pollio. Last week, six candidates were identified as finalists from a pool of 34 applicants.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JCPS should move its headquarters downtown to proposed 'Education District'
Dear Superintendent Marty Pollio and JCPS board members, We, the undersigned group of downtown Louisville-based educational, community and business leaders strongly encourage Jefferson County Public Schools' consideration of relocating its headquarters to downtown Louisville. A vibrant city center that integrates educational, civic, and business leadership will be crucial for our city's future success. JCPS' presence downtown would demonstrate its commitment to the community and have an immediate positive impact. Specifically, we recommend that you locate the JCPS headquarters in what we are in the process of proposing as the city's Education District, concentrated around the Broadway and Fourth Street corridors and for which the proposed boundaries are Kentucky to Muhammad Ali and Second to Seventh streets. This group has been meeting since June 2024 and includes the educational institutions that exist in the area and adjacent, including Jefferson Community and Technical College, Francis Parker School of Louisville, Presentation Academy, Simmons College, the Kentucky College of Art + Design, the Main Branch of the Free Public Library and several JCPS campuses (Brown, Central, Ahrens and Coleridge Taylor) and the University of Louisville (UofL's Envirome Institute and Community Engagement) entities as well. This is a unique opportunity for JCPS to secure affordable premises in the heart of our city and serve as a major catalyst in fostering a dynamic, collaborative Education District. Your relocation would strengthen ties with key civic, cultural and business institutions, benefiting students, families, and the broader community. It would also underscore JCPS' commitment to equity, accessibility and community engagement. Your leadership and vision are deeply appreciated. We are inspired by JCPS' dedication to cultivating a brighter future for Louisville's children. Please consider the lasting impact your headquarters would have on reinvigorating the heart of our city. Thank you for your time and consideration. We are happy to provide any additional supportor information as you move forward with this important decision. Education District of Louisville, 4th and Broadway Corridor Advocates: Amy Skretney Fowler of Presentation Academy, 40203; Rebecca Fleischaker of Louisville Downtown Partnership, 40202; Courtney Abboud of Metropolitan College, 40202; Alexandra Thurstone of Francis Parker School of Louisville, 40202; Ty Handy of Jefferson College, 40202; Moira Scott Payne of KY College of Art + Design, 40203; Kevin W. Cosby, Ph.D., of Simmons College of Kentucky, 40203; Aruni Bhatnagar of the University of Louisville's Envirome Institute, 40202; Chandra Gordon of The Library Foundation, 40202; Nagendra Jella of McDonalds on Broadway, 40202; Christina Lee Brown of Owsley Brown II Family Foundation, 40202; Rolf Provan of Luckett & Farley Architects, Engineers, & Const., 40202; Stephen Reily of Remuseum and IMC Licensing, 40202; JP Davis of JP Davis Partners, 40202; Gant Hill of Gant Hill Associates, representative for the Heyburn Building, 40202; John Birnsteel of Doe-Anderson, 40202; Stephen George, American Journalism Project, 40202; Randall L. Bloch of Bloch Investments LLC, owners of several properties on Broadway, 40202. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS move could help form a downtown Education District | Letter
