LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There's a possibility Jefferson County Public Schools may eliminate transportation for thousands of students next year. But there are other options, and the decision is left to the board of education.
Chairperson Corrie Shull and member Chris Kolb sat down with WDRB News on Thursday to discuss the options on the table for consideration.
The three options are:
- No longer provide buses for students who attend magnet and traditional schools, and only transport students who attend reside schools or an A5 school and students who require transportation under federal law, such as students experiencing homelessness or students in special education.
- Operate central hubs where magnet and traditional students could get bused to school from a drop-off point instead of from their neighborhoods
- Keep the current system and its associated delays
JCPS has said eliminating transportation for magnet and traditional students is the only idea that would fix the problem of buses running hours late.
The district said a national shortage of bus drivers is its problem, and expects to lose more drivers by next school year. If it eliminates transportation to magnet and traditional schools, it could eliminate the most bus routes.
While Kolb is concerned about limiting transportation to students, he feels it is the best option to remedy the problem of students missing class time.
"Don’t think it’s the right thing to do, to say we have transportation when we really don’t," Kolb said. "Yes, we can get everyone to school eventually but you know then they’re missing a lot of instructional time so families need to be able to rely on the transportation.”
Shull is not in favor of the three options. He has asked JCPS to come up with more equitable solutions.
"Our most vulnerable students, our neediest students need access to transportation. I think that our magnet schools need to be diverse and when I speak of diversity in respect to race and economics so we need to make sure we have a diversity in our magnet schools and that is priority number one for me," Shull said.
Shull said he is waiting for JCPS to provide documentation the transportation plans have undergone the district's Racial Equity Analysis Protocol, also known as REAP.
"It seeks to rune very decision, every proposal through a set of questions in order to determine if the proposal is equitable. The REAP ensures we are not making decisions that negatively impact black and brown children in our district," Shull said.
The board meets Tuesday, but is not expected to talk about transportation. A vote on transportation is anticipated at its meeting on March 26.
Board members Joe Marshall, Linda Duncan, Sarah McIntosh, James Craig, and Gail Logan-Strange did not respond to WDRB's request to comment by the time of this writing.
JCPS Transportation Coverage:
- JCPS considers solutions for transportation and dealing with behavior issues on buses
- JCPS superintendent Pollio against splitting district, discusses challenges and highlights at 'State of the District'
- Traffic jams caused by JCPS car-rider lines also impacting those who don't have students
- Long car-rider lines at JCPS schools causing traffic jams on Louisville streets
- JCPS in conversations with TARC to offer alternatives if transportation limited next school year
- Possible solution to JCPS transportation issues raises concerns about equity
- JCPS board continues weighing transportation options amid concerns over limiting students' access to magnet schools
- JCPS says only 1 plan will solve its bus driver shortage next year. Here's how it would work.
- JCPS bus delays much worse under new start times, data shows
- JCPS board will consider these options to fix bus debacle in February, superintendent says
- Bill would allow Kentucky public school employees to drive students to and from school in passenger vehicles
- JCPS says transportation not guaranteed for all students next school year
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