JCPS bus drivers practicing new routes ahead of first day of school

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools will welcome students back to class in under two weeks, and the district hopes to avoid another transportation meltdown.

Leaders have been working all summer long to make changes after some students arrived home as late as 10 p.m. on the first day of school in August 2023, prompting school to be canceled for two days to resolve the issues.

In April, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to cut transportation to all magnet and traditional schools, which impacts more than 14,000 students. The board voted to add exceptions for Central High School and Western High School students because both schools have more than 75% of students on free or reduced lunch.

In an effort to address a bus driver shortage, the district came to an agreement with Transit Authority of River City that transitioned some of their drivers, who were at risk of losing their jobs because of the agency's financial state and decision to scale back routes, to the school district.

Bus drivers are practicing their routes now, in the hopes of avoiding another busing disaster on the first day of school last year.

"The first thought of the day is 'Can I make it through and not have any issues?' And the second thought is 'Of course we can! We've got this,'" third year bus driver Austin Anderson said Friday during a ride-along with WDRB.

Anderson said he loves being a JCPS bus driver, and has rolled with the punches over the past three years.

"I kind of wish I became a bus driver sooner than I did," he said Friday.

But last year was a doozy, even for drivers like Anderson. Long routes all across Jefferson County meant students were getting picked up and dropped off far later than expected.

"It was definitely hard on the kids," Anderson said.

This year, JCPS isn't using outside routing company AlphaRoute to set the bus routes. The change allowed drivers to get their routes sooner this year. They now get to practice and offer feedback 10 days before school starts.

"The drivers will be running the routes trip to time, so if the stop is supposed to make 6:19, the driver will be out making the stop at 6:19 and deploring the stop arm," said Marcus Dobbs, executive administrator of Transportation Services for JCPS.

Because the district cut busing for magnet schools, routes will be shorter and more direct.

"(I'm) relieved that I'm not going to be all over the city," said Anderson. "It will be one school, and I get to get familiar with the kids, both morning and afternoon."

District leaders said 65% of students will have the same bus driver and route before and after school.

"It allows us the opportunity to provide structure," eighth year bus driver Danyle Lynch said.

JCPS will also have the TARC drivers helping with some routes, though it's not clear yet how and when those drivers will be included.

"That's a decision to be determined later by the board," Dobbs said. "Depends upon how that impacts with the number of drivers that we have that maintain our routes."

The district hopes all of these changes will ensure a smooth ride on the first day of school.

"I think the parents are going to be more satisfied than they've ever been, and I think us as drivers will be more satisfied," said Lynch. "We just need to have a little bit of patience that first week, and we're gonna get the job done."

The first day of school for JCPS students is Aug. 8.

Prepping for the first day

The district has set up this webpage for new information about next school year. Monday, the district opened its hotline and bus portal.

Parents can now access its Bus Teller portal. Bus Teller will allow parents to see the bus stop and time assigned to their child.

JCPS encourages families to check the portal daily, as location or times may change.

Click here: Bus Teller Portal Link

JCPS told WDRB some families have reached out regarding bus stop times being just a few minutes before the first bell. The district said it is addressing those concerns.

The hotline has also opened, two weeks earlier this year to help families with questions or concerns.

To access the hotline, dial 485-RIDE.

The hotline will be open five days a week, taking calls from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., though hours may be adjusted depending on call volume. The hotline will remain open several days into the school year.

JCPS said its bus tracking app EduLog will also be available for parents to track their student's buses this school year.

For families needing assistance getting school supplies, there are more than a dozen back-to-school events scheduled around the city, offering supplies for free thanks to local churches, nonprofits, companies, JCPS and Metro Government.

For a list of those events, click here.

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