LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Since Jefferson County Public Schools' start time proposals have been explained, parents are tasked with preparing for next year and for some, it has been difficult.
On Wednesday, Lotoya Sales told WDRB News the proposed start times mean she may have to leave her job at JCPS.
The district hosted a virtual information session Tuesday evening about two proposals that would implement three different start times instead of the nine JCPS currently has.
The proposed start times are 7:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. There are two options the district has presented and will need to finalize.
The first scenario would shift times for about 40 schools. The benefits include less disruption, no middle schools starting at 9:40 a.m., and would address "pain points" such as traffic patterns at multiple schools. Limitations include that it is not geographically-based, meaning seven of the district's 13 bus compounds will be in geographic regions. There is less mirroring, 20%-30%, which makes it more inefficient, and a later clear time.
The second scenario would shift times for about 80 schools. Benefits include all compounds being in their geographic regions, a low route count, higher mirroring, 50%-60%, and an earlier clear time. Limitations, however, include three middle schools starting at 9:40 a.m. and a higher number of schools changing start times.
Sales has three kids. Her two daughters will be at King Elementary next year. Her son will be at Johnson Traditional Middle School, and will not have transportation because of the district's recently approved new transportation plan.
Option one has her daughters starting at 9:40 a.m. and son at 7:30 a.m. Option two has her daughters starting at 7:30 a.m. and son at 8:40 p.m.
Sales also works at Maupin Elementary as a nutritional assistant.
"It's going to be real difficult," she said. "I'm gonna have to find another job because I can't them out of the school ... I don't know if they thinking about all of that, just changing every thing."
Elementary school gym teacher Jennifer Zehnder also has the same concern.
"I didn't quite understand why we did so much at the start," Zehnder said regarding the 2023-24 school year.
Zehnder said because she teaches at a traditional school, several of her students will likely change to a school that will provide transportation. However, she believes if her school starts at the 7:30 a.m. proposed start time, opposed to the 8:40 a.m., it would be better.
"The 7:30 start time would have been a whole lot better for a lot of our parents," Zehnder said.
The district's decision to alter start times for the second year in a row follows a decision to cut transportation.
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.
In an effort to make changes ahead of the 2024-25 school year, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted earlier this month to cut transportation to all magnet and traditional schools, 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 thousands of 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.
Another effort to reduce transportation issues plaguing Kentucky's largest school district has left the conversation to consolidate start times, a recommendation given to the district by Prismatic Solutions following its audit of JCPS' transportation mess.
Prismatic Solutions, an outside consulting firm, has been reviewing the district's transportation department. The agency found JCPS and routing company at AlphaRoute to blame for the district's first day busing disaster.
The firm is now requesting parents to fill out a survey regarding transportation, according to a memo sent to JCPS families.
The survey is optional and asks families about their experience with the transportation department and riding the bus.
As for a final decision on start times, the board is expected to vote on a plan at its meeting Tuesday, May 7.
JCPS Transportation Coverage:
- Louisville parents face more decisions as JCPS outlines 2 proposals for new school start times
- JCPS considering 2 proposals for new school start times, board member says
- JCPS offering teachers opportunity to drive school bus for district
- Here are the JCPS schools that will lose transportation under district's new plan
- JCPS expected to make decision on start times during May board meeting
- Jefferson County Teachers Association concerned about new JCPS transportation plan
- Stress mounts for JCPS parents looking for transportation as alternative faces financial issues
- City offers looming TARC layoffs as a solution to hire more JCPS bus drivers
- Louisville community coming up with solutions to get students to class on time next school year
- What to know about JCPS transfers, next year start times, and possible changes to school boundaries
- President of JCPS bus driver union says school board 'had to' make decision they did
- Some JCPS parents angry over decision to cut transportation for magnet, traditional schools
- JCPS board votes to cut transportation to magnet, traditional schools with exceptions following heated debate
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