Two members of the JCPS Community Racial Equity Analysis Protocol Committee who spoke to LPM News say if the plan did pass the REAP, it wasn’t on their watch.

“People can say whatever they want to say — I was in the room, and I know it didn’t,” Community REAP Committee member Michelle Patrick told LPM News. Patrick is also the chair of the Education Committee for the NAACP of Louisville.

JCPS committee members say transportation cuts failed a fairness test, contrary to district claims

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Michelle E. Patrick earned a bachelor's degree in elementery education and teaching from the University of Louisville and graduate degrees in education from Western Kentucky University.

Michelle has over 12 years of experience as an educational consultant and 27 years of experience as an educator.

2026 Kentucky General Election

According to two REAP committee members, JCPS staff brought them plans to cut magnet transportation at meetings in November and February. At both meetings, the plan failed to earn the confidence of committee members.

“The options were not acceptable,” Patrick said. “What happens with marginalized children…how do they get to school?”

The district’s decision to eliminate magnet busing prompted local NAACP leaders to call for the resignation of top district officials and reconsider the group’s support for the new student assignment plan that went into effect last August. JCPS officials said that plan would allow more options for Black, Brown and low-income students to attend magnet programs and schools closer to home. That plan, however, failed to take into account a spiraling driver shortage, according to an independent audit of the district’s transportation failures.

“Our community was promised ‘choice,’ but it has only deprived our children,” Patrick told KyCIR.

Black, Latino, low-income and immigrant students most likely to leave magnets after JCPS cuts busing

Opposes cuts to magnet-school transportation, saying they deprive children of promised choice and asking how marginalized children would get to school.

- Opposes cuts to magnet-school transportation, saying they deprive children of promised choice and asking how marginalized children would get to school.

Access to Education

As of September 16, 2026, Michelle E. Patrick did not have a website or any information online.

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School Facilities & Resources

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Michelle E. Patrick

Two JCPS school board candidates filed in wrong districts

As of September 16, 2026, Michelle E. Patrick’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Deja B. Jackson

Kimberly Ann Vinegar

Travis Bass

- 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. 