JCPS considering not having delays for inclement weather this winter in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A new report sheds light on current transportation issues within JCPS and some proposed solutions.

Major changes could be in the works, including no more delays for bad weather. And transportation for magnet school students could also potentially disappear.

The proposed changes are up for discussion at next Tuesday's school board meeting, including eliminating delays for inclement weather. JCPS spokesman Mark Hebert confirmed Wednesday the school district is considering doing away with one- or two-hour delays in response to winter weather. That means school would either be a "Go" or "No Go" day.

There could potentially be snow days or Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) days, but — if that plan is adopted — the schedule would be either a full day of instruction or none at all.

District officials said advance notification will remain the same for families as it is now. 

As for transportation for magnet and traditional schools, officials will consider possibly eliminating all of those routes -- but nothing is set in stone.

JCPS has experienced several bus delays because of bus driver shortages this year. The district consolidated bus routes and staggered school start times this year to help with the issue. Bus issues were so bad that school was cancelled after the first day of school for more than a week.

Currently JCPS transports around 65,000 students each day. JCPS said it currently has 568 routes, and 574 full-time drivers. But it averages 51 drivers per day calling out.

JCPS officials have said their goal is to have all students dropped off after school by 6:30 p.m., but the average time from Oct. 9 to Nov. 22 was 7 p.m. 

There are seven potential action plans up for consideration that would impact anywhere from 15 to 100 percent of all routes, including transporting only free and reduced lunch students, hubs for magnet students, or a lottery option for schools.

Offering a stipend to parents to transport their own kids to high school is also a potential option, but how much that stipend would be worth isn't clear.

JCPS reports it is actively working to recruit new drivers -- with 10 new drivers set to begin a recruit class on Dec. 4.

Bonus pay is also being offered for drivers with up to three  challenging routes.

The district is also considering creating a routing team that would look at ways to make routes more efficient. 

In 2015, JCPS employed 1,080 bus drivers, the current number of drivers is almost half that with just 526 daily average drivers.

One issue that was not covered in the report is how long the delays are for getting students to school.

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