LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Jefferson County Board of Education has voted to change start times for about 40 schools, going from nine to three start times next school year.

The board was weighing two different scenarios on Tuesday for Jefferson County Public Schools' 2024-25 school year. 

The first scenario, which failed at first but eventually passed, will change start times for around 40 schools. The second would have switched start times for about 80 schools.

Both plans move JCPS from nine start times down to three: 7:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m., and 9:40 a.m.

Download PDF JCPS Start Times Scenario 1.pdf

Less than two hours after the start of Tuesday's meeting, a motion to pass the first scenario failed, and no motion was made to vote on the second. Board Chair Corrie Shull said it would be "back to the drawing board," but Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said delaying a vote again means start times may remain the same as they are this year.

Shortly after the first motion failed, a new motion was made to vote on the first scenario, which passed with the caveat that the board would review start times on Dec. 1 to potentially make adjustments for the 2025-26 school year.

Following the vote, Board Member Sarah McIntosh posted on X that she didn't like how the board voted.

"I don't like how we voted but given the choice between Options 1, 2 and the status quo I had to support the proposal that would cause the least amount of disruption to our families," McIntosh said.

Tuesday's meeting was streamed live on the board's YouTube page. You can watch it by clicking here.

Several JCPS principals attended the meeting and voiced concerns over the options.

Dozens of elementary school principals spoke against the district's youngest students starting at 9:40 a.m.

"It's not what we stood for today as elementary school principals when we really looked at the research and really came together as a collective group to speak not just for elementary students but all students in JCPS," said Courtney Grace, principal at Hazelwood Elementary. "I am happy that there is a deadline to consider a re-option in December."

Several middle and high school principals also spoke at the meeting and expressed concern about there being a "surprise" third option. There was concern the board would introduce and approve an option not previously discussed publicly.  

Principals mentioned it being discussed in an emergency Zoom meeting with JCPS Chief of Staff Robert Moore.

A JCPS spokesperson said that following requests to explore earlier start times for elementary schools, Moore wanted to make principals aware that was feedback JCPS had received.

Pollio said his team did not plan to bring up a new, third option, but said the board had authority to do so,  if it wanted.

During Tuesday's presentation, Moore spoke about challenges of having middle and high schools start the school day at a later time.

Some of those reasons included earlier start times better align for high school students taking classes at UofL or JCTC, it aligns better with IB and AP programs, and allows older students to help get younger students home from school. Moore also mentioned middle school athletic fields do not have lights, making it difficult for them to practice and have games during the school year.

The conversation about switching start times is another factor revolving around JCPS transportation struggles that have persisted during the 2023-24 school year.

The district is down bus drivers, and is finding ways to work with the number of drivers it has available.

Currently, the JCPS has 550 bus drivers for 560 bus routes with no change in the services provided, Pollio said, adding that each school day starts with about 64 more routes than the district has drivers. On top of that, JCPS averages 52 drivers absent daily.

In an effort to make changes ahead of the 2024-25 school year, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted last month to cut transportation for magnet and traditional students, with the exception of Central and Western high schools — which both have a 75% threshold of students on free or reduced lunch.

Cuts to transportation at those schools impacts around 14,000 students, and leaves parents with a difficult decision — keep their child in a magnet or traditional school without transportation, or transfer them to their resides school. Resides schools are the schools that serve a certain home address, and isn't always the closest school to that address. 

But, the district said the plan does still mean there will be delays next school year.

Many families have expressed their frustrations with the district's transportation problems since the first day of school last August, when some students didn't get home until almost 10 p.m. It was the first day with nine start times across the district, and the first day with consolidated bus routes to deal with driver shortages.

The district canceled school for a week after that to improve logistics. But the problems have persisted.

Another effort to reduce transportation issues plaguing Kentucky's largest school district is to consolidate start times, a recommendation given to the district by Prismatic Solutions following its audit of JCPS' transportation mess.

With these changes, some students are expected to transfer. 

The transfer period starts on May 6. The district said the Student Transfer Application may not be used to apply to a magnet school. If the school is full at the requested grade level, JCPS said the student will have the option of filling out a wait list request.

WDRB News wants to hear from you about your transportation experiences. Fill out our survey by clicking here or on the post embedded below.

JCPS Transportation Coverage:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.