LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) — The attorney for Fayette County Schools’ budget director says text messages contradict allegations made about Ann Sampson-Grimes in the district’s ongoing financial fallout.
MORE
Sampson-Grimes was put on leave on August 15 for what the district called an issue of leadership. Sampson-Grimes claims she was placed on leave for blowing the whistle about a $16 million budget deficit.
She later filed a lawsuit against the district and has since returned to work remotely.
Ann Sampson-Grimes’ attorney Brandon Voelker told WKYT that Grimes is still facing continued retaliation after returning to work.
He says this is why he wanted to provide proof of Sampson-Grimes is allegedly being set up as a scapegoat for the district’s budget shortfall.
There is a lot to go through in these nearly 20 pages of documents that include text messages between Sampson-Grimes and budget specialist Jessica Williams.
According to her attorney, Sampson-Grimes raised concerns about overspending and the need for budget cuts as far back as July 2024, but claims those warnings were ignored.
Her legal team now alleges top district leaders, including Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins, created a false narrative, accusing Sampson-Grimes of not responding to emails from Jessica Williams in January about the shortfall.
In emails obtained by WKYT earlier this month, Williams says she emailed Sampson-Grimes about the budget shortfall back in January and did not receive a response.
She also says Sampson-Grimes cut her out of information while also taking away her ability to process budget transfers.
But text messages between Sampson-Grimes and Williams seem to contradict that Williams and Sampson-Grimes were not in personal communication about the budget.
In May of this year, messages show Williams texted Sampson-Grimes stating that district leadership “have an agenda and it has nothing to do with real numbers,” and advised Sampson-Grimes to “not die on this hill” regarding the budget numbers.
Attorney Brandon Voelker says this contradicts the district’s later claims that Williams was concerned about Sampson-Grimes’ lack of response.
“I don’t know why I can’t speak for Ms. Williams why she would then somehow play naive when she’s got emails and text messages that clearly outline that she knew full well that Barber, Liggins and Jackson all knew of these issues way back in January through May,” Voelker said.
We can read full letter from Sampson-Grimes’ attorneys below:
FCPS budget director’s attorney says text messages contradict district claims by WKYT
Copyright 2025 WKYT. All rights reserved.

source