JCPS 'learned a lot' from last year as it works to avoid repeat of first day transportation mess

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As Jefferson County Public Schools students get ready to head back to school next Thursday, district leaders are sharing what they're doing, and have done, to avoid another transportation meltdown.

The district has 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.

"So we learned a lot from last year. We made a lot of mistakes and we learned from that. Bringing in our own internal routing team so that they are routing the buses has been a big addition and help for us," Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said Wednesday. "But, without a doubt, it's having more bus drivers than routes. Which, this will be the first time we've had that in many years. We had to make some tough decisions to get there, but having more bus drivers than routes is going to make it much more efficient for us."

Pollio said the goal this year is to have all kids home around 7 p.m.

"The first day, I don't know, is extremely challenging. I don't know if everyone understands, especially when you have little children, kindergarteners who may be coming to a school for the first time. They may not know where their bus stop is, so we've got to assist them through that process and make sure everyone gets home safely and efficiently," he said. "So there is no doubt, I mean it will be well before anything we had last year. But we always have to deal with issues making sure there are kids who missed a bus stop, stayed on the bus too long, fell asleep on the bus and we've got to get them home. But the vast majority, we want to be in that range of 7 o'clock."

Since the start of last school year, JCPS has been making changes in an effort to solve transportation issues and a bus driver shortage.

In April, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted 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.

Those families will be eligible for stipends. The district said the stipends are taxable income, and may conflict with income-based benefits like SNAP. Parents with students who qualify for free and reduced lunches could receive $5 per day or $10 per school day to transport their child.

Parents will sign up beginning the week of Aug. 26. Payments will begin the week of Sept. 9, and back payments from August will be completed by Sept. 23.

If a parent is eligible for $5 a day and has to transport two students to two different schools, they will receive $10 a day. If the parent is driving two children to one school, they will receive $5.

In an effort to address a bus driver shortage, the district reached 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.

JCPS anticipates 70 drivers from TARC will be available to drive for JCPS.

The city's bus drivers already have their CDL, but need to have an additional certification for driving school buses.

JCPS said 12 of those 70 TARC drivers have the additional certification.

To help expedite the certification process, Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will host a special testing and licensing event in Louisville on Tuesday.

JCPS said as many as 38 drivers will take the test, and if pass, receive the additional certification on the same day.

When it comes to keeping kids safe at school, Pollio said schools are more prepared than ever.

"We will have a police department of 55 officers, which means with 150 schools we can easily have a police officer assigned to an elementary, a middle, and a high or two elementary (schools) and a high school and be in that vicinity the entire time," he said. "So our safety has increased dramatically over the past three years. Can't always predict all problems and we know nationally things happen, but we are prepared better than we ever have been before for safety issues on our schools."

Getting ready for the first day of school

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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