LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Voters in Jefferson County Public Schools’ District 5 will choose among three candidates whose campaigns emphasize different challenges facing the district: William Snawder is focused on academic outcomes and spending, Kyle Killebrew says transparency is essential to rebuilding trust, and Carrie Donovan is calling for stronger attention to safety. District 5 was redrawn earlier this year and now covers a large part of southern Jefferson County, including Valley Station, Fairdale, Okolona and Fern Creek. Five seats on the JCPS Board of Education are up for election. Snawder, a hotel manager who has worked for a learning-center franchise and a nonprofit, said becoming a JCPS parent motivated him to run. He cited experience in education, business management and nonprofit work, and said he wants better academic results and a balanced budget. Snawder, who has the Jefferson County Republican Party’s support, said recent cuts were a starting point but argued that more could be done at the district’s central office. He said he believes it is large compared with offices in school districts of similar size and demographics. Killebrew, a sheet metal worker and business representative for the sheet metal workers union, is also a JCPS parent. Endorsed by the Jefferson County Teachers Union, he said his main goal is restoring public confidence through greater transparency. “If you're hiding things or you're not being 100% correct on the numbers,” Killebrew said, people will continue to distrust the system. He added that a family member had moved out of Jefferson County, citing JCPS as one reason. Donovan brings nearly 20 years of teaching experience, much of it with JCPS. She said a serious injury sustained while breaking up a fight forced her to retire before she was ready. She now wants to advocate for families in the district, with school safety as a central concern. “Policies on paper aren't enough,” Donovan said, calling for practical safety measures, transparency, an honest assessment of what works and a willingness to hear from people affected by school policies. The three candidates’ priorities put district management, openness and student safety at the center of a contest in a broad, recently redrawn area of Louisville. Their approaches offer voters distinct choices about how a board member should respond to concerns raised by families and educators.