PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. — A public school district in southern Kentucky has received national criticism due to its active promotion to oppose Kentucky’s school choice amendment this fall. 

Pulaski County Schools promoted "Vote No on Amendment 2" materials on its district websites and social media pages before Superintendent Patrick Richardson announced Aug. 14 the materials had been removed. This was after Attorney General Russell Coleman, R-Ky., issued an advisory saying “public resources may not be used to advocate for or against Amendment 2.”

Supporters of Kentucky school choice and Republican lawmakers are calling on Coleman to investigate the school district for unlawfully advocating against Amendment 2 on its district website and social media. They also had it on their marquee sign outside the district offices.

“I’m familiar with the post in Pulaski County. I reviewed it earlier today (Monday). It’s pretty unambiguous. It’s pretty crystal clear,” Coleman said.

Coleman released an advisory to all school districts in the commonwealth, referencing Kentucky law, a previous attorney general opinion and a guidance document issued by the Kentucky School Boards Association to make clear resources should not be spent on political activities.

“The Office of the Attorney General is continuing to monitor reports from across the Commonwealth regarding this topic and is committed to ensuring that public officials observe the constitutional and statutory limitations prohibiting the use of public resources in connection with the pending ballot questions,” Coleman said. “The Office is prepared to take any necessary action within its authority to ensure these constitutional and statutory limitations are upheld.”

The post in question was an infographic on the district website urging voters to vote “no” on Amendment 2, which would allow legislators an option to fund non-public schools with public funds. It was also on the Pulaski County School’s social media pages.

The infographic said 143 educator jobs could be cut and $15 million lost if Kentucky were to establish a Florida-style voucher program, in which 30% of funds the state spends on public schools would support private school vouchers.

Amendment 2 does not make any changes to state funding immediately.

GOP candidate for Kentucky House District 66, TJ Roberts said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the district is in “clear violation” of KRS 65.013; “Tax dollars not to be used to advocate for or against public question on ballot.” He argues the district’s website and any employees who made the post are supported by public funds.

Rep. Thomas Massie. R-Crescent Springs, also weighed in on X, saying Pulaski County is “blatantly breaking the law.”

On Tuesday, Roberts followed up with a post announcing he formally requested Attorney General Coleman to review the posts.

When asked by Spectrum News 1 Monday about the district and its posts, Coleman said, “We as an office are reviewing; our team of lawyers are reviewing the post, are reviewing the law and if indeed there is a violation of state law; we know what the facts are. We will act with our partners accordingly.”

Sebastian Torres, is a supporter of “Yes On 2.” He is also an attorney. Torres said the violation is clear.

“There’s overwhelming precedent in Kentucky that you are not supposed to be using state taxpayer dollars for purposes of electioneering whether that be for candidates or for these issues,” Torres said.

Torres said he believes there will be complaints filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance for “improperly cited” funds supporting opposition of Amendment 2.

“It would not surprise me if there were legal, formal proceedings, actions placed here in the near future,” Torres said.

Removing the Amendment 2 posts, Richardson said while he did not agree with the attorney general’s advisory, he would follow it for now.

“I do not agree with the Attorney General’s opinion; however, I respect the office and will follow this advisory until it is overruled,” he said.

“I have advised district employee to not use district resources or use their time during school hours to oppose or encourage people to ‘VOTE NO on Amendment 2,’ the school voucher amendment.”

Richardson added that Coleman did not seek input from him or anyone in the school district before issuing his advisory and called the advisory “partisan politics at its worst.”

In a previous statement sent to Spectrum News 1, Richardson said, “The Pulaski County Board of Education is not intimidated by the threats of politicians and advocates of Amendment 2, wrongly referred to as ‘School Choice.’ It is an attempt to siphon off public school money for private schools, particularly Charter Schools.”

The statement continued, saying, “Pulaski Board members have been threatened and intimidated by some on social media for speaking against this and for exercising their First Amendment rights. The U.S. Supreme Court said long ago that those rights are not surrendered at the schoolhouse gate …The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the laws passed by the General Assembly to fund private schools was unconstitutional. So, the response by the General Assembly was to change the Constitution. That is what Amendment 2 is about.”

KYPolicy.org, whose graphics are displayed on the websites, declined to comment on the matter. They are vocally against the amendment.