LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Bullitt County Public Schools warned families about possible bus route disruptions when students head back to class as the district faces a driver shortage.
A letter sent to Bullitt County Public Schools families about possible bus route disruptions when students head back to class for the 2026-27 school year.Â
In a letter to families Tuesday, the district said it's actively recruiting drivers ahead of the 2026-27 school year but warned that families would be responsible for getting their children to school if their bus route gets canceled.
"Families are responsible for student transportation and attendance," the district said. "If a bus route is canceled, absences will not be excused."
To help families get their children to school, the district is offering a few solutions.
For elementary and middle school students, the district said parents can utilize the Right at School program and drop them off at school as early as 6 a.m. Students can stay after school until 6 p.m.
The district is also implementing community stops for high school students, providing designated locations for them to gather for a ride to school.
While absences will not be excused when a bus route is canceled, the district said parents have up to six "parent notes" available each school year for excused absences when "unexpected emergencies happen."
Chelsea Stanley's daughter is in first grade, and said she had to write her more than five parent notes last year to excuse her from school because her bus route was canceled.
"It's actually been a nightmare," Stanley said. "She loves school, she likes going to school, she hates missing school."
Because she doesn't drive and her husband is off to work at 4 a.m., she can't get her to school. Her only other option is to walk her daughter to school, but they live off Preston Highway.
"It's either have the kid miss school, or walk down a very busy street with no sidewalks and a lot of wrecks," said Stanley.Â
While the district told parents in the letter that they have up to six parent notes, Stanley said there was no limit last year.
"I don't want to go to court because I can't get my kid to school because they're having busing issues," she said. "It's frustrating, something has to change. Something has to be better, because it's not even us who's being fully impacted, it's the kids."
BCPS Superintendent Jesse Bacon said while the district will have enough full-time drivers for all routes to start the school year, there is a need for substitute drivers.
"Our problem is that there are not enough people who want to drive a bus," Bacon said in a statement Tuesday. "We have raised pay considerably over the last five years."
Bacon said average pay for bus drivers is $25.44 per hour for 179 days, with full benefits — insurance, retirement, 10 days of accumulating sick leave, two days of personal leave and three emergency days per year. The superintendent added that the district's "most experienced drivers" are making $30.20 an hour.
Those interested in becoming a bus driver for BCPS can apply online by clicking here.
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
