I live in northeast Louisville and am running because this is a critical moment for JCPS — a serious budget crisis, major changes to board structure and superintendent authority, and decisions about school closures and program cuts that will affect students and communities for years. These decisions deserve rigorous, evidence-based scrutiny.

Neil Seftor for JCPS District 3 (Neil Seftor)

## Education

### PhD

University of Virginia

Neil Seftor | NORC at the University of Chicago

Neil Seftor lives in northeast Louisville. He earned a bachelor's degree, master's degree, and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

About
I’m an economist with more than 25 years of experience in education research and evaluation. As an Associate Director at NORC at the University of Chicago, a nonpartisan research organization, I study whether education programs and policies actually produce results for students — and what the evidence says when they don’t.

Neil Seftor currently works as an associate director at NORC at the University of Chicago and is an economist specializing in education research and evaluation.

Neil currently works as an associate director at NORC at the University of Chicago and is an economist specializing in education research and evaluation.

2026 Kentucky General Election

As of September 15, 2026, Neil Seftor’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Access to Education

School Curriculum

Platform
Cuts should fall on administration and inefficient infrastructure — not on classrooms, programs, or the people who directly serve students. Consolidating underutilized, aging buildings can make financial sense, but only if the programs those schools provide follow the students. Closing a building while eliminating the program it housed is a double cut, and it is often students who can least afford it who pay the price.

Platform
I am open to a tax referendum, but the district needs to earn it first — by demonstrating that existing resources are being managed responsibly and that classrooms and educators are being protected. JCPS likely needs more resources over the long term, but the trust has to be built first.

Platform
The board must exercise meaningful, independent oversight of the superintendent rather than deferring to administration. A board that engages with data, asks hard questions, and holds the district accountable for outcomes is what JCPS needs right now.

Supports directing budget cuts to administration and inefficient infrastructure rather than classrooms, student programs, or staff who serve students.

Supports consolidating underused, aging school buildings only if their programs continue to serve affected students.

Is open to a district tax referendum after the district demonstrates responsible resource management and protects classrooms and educators.

Calls for the school board to independently oversee the superintendent and hold the district accountable for outcomes.

- Supports directing budget cuts to administration and inefficient infrastructure rather than classrooms, student programs, or staff who serve students.
- Supports consolidating underused, aging school buildings only if their programs continue to serve affected students.
- Is open to a district tax referendum after the district demonstrates responsible resource management and protects classrooms and educators.
- Calls for the school board to independently oversee the superintendent and hold the district accountable for outcomes.

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

Neil Seftor

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Gay P. Adelmann

Taylor Everett

Veda Pendleton

- Board of education members work as a team to lead the school district by setting policy, providing resources, and overseeing employees. 
- The board of education is responsible for the local school budget. It reviews expenditures, allocates funds, and approves facility plans. The board may levy taxes if deemed necessary.
- The board of education hires and directly supervises the district superintendent.
- School board of education numbers are elected in staggered even-numbered years through a nonpartisan election and serve four-year terms. Most boards in Kentucky consist of five members. 
- Independent school districts elect board members at large; county school districts elect board members from divisions. 
- School board members do not receive a salary. They may be compensated for costs associated with state-mandated activities. 

Governs the local public school system and allocates the education budget. 