LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools parents are waiting to find out when the school day will start next year. And right now, there are proposals to change start times from nine different ones district-wide to just three.

Jefferson County School Board member Linda Duncan said the district is looking at two different proposals that'll include start times of 7:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m. and either 9:40 a.m. or 9:45 a.m.

"They're probably going to get home earlier than they did last year because of the attempt to regionalize the routes," Duncan said Monday. "I like that we are going to regionalize in the second option, which would make routes shorter. We can mirror more routes, which means the same driver will be taking them home. I love the features of that plan and I think the drivers will probably love the features."

However, Duncan said that second plan has some middle schools starting in the 9 o'clock hour.

"One option moves start times for 20 schools," she said. "The other option moves times for 71 schools."

For the last several years, JCPS has struggled to recruit enough bus drivers, resulting in buses running delayed, up to several hours. In attempt to resolve the problem, JCPS changed from just two to nine start times, and partnered with out of state routing company AlphaRoute to maximize transportation with its limited drivers.

However, the first day of school with new start times and bus routes, proved to be disastrous for the district. The first day was plagued with bus delays in the morning and the afternoon. Some students' buses never showed up that morning, and others didn't get dropped off from school that evening until almost 10 p.m.

In February, JCPS said it has 558 drivers, 563 routes, and averages 52 drivers absent daily. That leaves 57 routes uncovered daily.

Download PDF JCPS Start Times Scenario 1.pdf

The district projects by July 2024, it will have 526 drivers. Assuming it averages the same number of drivers out daily, JCPS wants to have 474 or less routes a day, to ensure routes are covered by drivers.

Earlier this month, the board last week voted, 4-3, to cut transportation for most magnet and traditional schools, but students who attend Central and Western high schools will be able to ride the bus. Those two schools were exempt because more than 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Duncan said both plans involve three start times. But Duncan said she's hoping for some adjustments to the three start times to help the kids who get out later. She said school sports could be greatly impacted if students get out of school too late.

"I think we ought to think about an earlier start," she said. "Start at 7:15, middle level would be 8:20, and then our late level would be 9:25."

JCPS is hosting a virtual forum before the expected May 7 board vote on proposed start time adjustments at 6 p.m. Tuesday, which will be streamed on the JCPS YouTube channel. The district said the meeting will include a 20-minute presentation and about 40 minutes for questions and answers. If you'd like to submit a question online, click here.

Download PDF JCPS Start Times Scenario 2.pdf

District spokesperson Carolyn Callahan released the two scenarios that will be presented. Callahan said schools highlighted in grey are those that are changing start times. Schools with an asterisk next to them are changing less than 15 minutes, and schools with their names in bold will change an hour or more. In both cases, she said, no high schools are starting at 9:40 a.m.

You can read each plan in the PDFs embedded in this story.

Depending on the feedback Tuesday, Duncan said the start time recommendations could change. But she said the three different start times will have a mix of schools in it.

This comes after JCPS cut bus routes for thousands of students with the exception of Central and Western high schools. 

"It's not any one time, all one level," she said. "Even the high school level also has some middle schools in it."

"I hope that doesn't mean we're mixing anyone on buses. It just means those levels will be served at three different times." 

Duncan said the forum Tuesday could also change the start time recommendations depending on the feedback. She said there are no plans to reverse the board's decision on cutting transportation for next school year. Callahan said Tuesday that the transportation plan "is not designed to have all students at school on time," and that there will still be delays next school year with this plan.

JCPS Coverage:

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