Commissioner recommends state takeover of Breathitt County schools

JACKSON, Ky. - Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday has recommended a state takeover of the Breathitt County school district in eastern Kentucky.

Education Department spokeswoman Lisa Gross told WYMT-TV that a recent audit of the district prompted the decision.

The audit released in October found that former superintendent Arch Turner took 10 instructional days out of the school calendar but paid teachers more than $525,000 for time not worked. Turner resigned earlier this year after pleading guilty in a federal vote-buying conspiracy.

School board members announced in November that they had hired a consultant to find a permanent replacement for Turner after suspending interterm Superintendent Melanie Stevens and appointing another person to fill the role temporarily.