aardcom
Hi
JA Directory working fine with Joomla 3.9
On your site have customization in K2 files that may created problem.
If you want to create own override for K2.
You need to apply it in /templates/ja_directory/html/ folder.
/templates/ja_directory/local/ is used to override html, css. tpls folder of the template.
You can say its 2nd override for template, This is useful when u have custom work for template.
Regards