LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Jefferson County School Board will take a deep dive Tuesday night into possible solutions to the transportation problems that have plagued the city's public school system all year.

Jefferson County Public Schools is expected to have even fewer drivers next school year, exacerbating an issue that has led to a threefold increase in bus delays this school year. So on Tuesday, the board will begin conversations on possibly eliminating transportation for some students next year.

JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio said there are three basic scenarios available to the board:

  • No longer provide buses for students who attend magnet and traditional schools
  • Operate central hubs where magnet and traditional schools could get bused to school from a drop-off point instead of from their neighborhoods
  • Keep the current system and its associated delays

"None of them are perfect options," Pollio said last month. "They all come with consequences and unintended consequences, but we want the community and our board to know what those consequences are going into it and then make an informed decision."

JCPS students lost nearly 4 million minutes of instructional time because of bus delays in the October-December period of 2023, nearly four times the instructional time lost during the same period in 2022, according to a WDRB News analysis of data obtained in a public records request.

Last year, there were only two school start times. Middle school and high schools started at 7:40 a.m., while elementary schools started at 9:05 a.m. Under the new plan, start times range from 7:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

The new system had a disastrous rollout in August when delays forced the cancellation of six days of school. Things have improved since then, but the new data sheds light on the issues schools continue to grapple with each day.

JCPS parents regularly receive text messages notifying them of bus delays. One such message last month said a bus from Atherton High School would be delayed "approximately 3.5 hours."

Pollio said not doing anything before August means next year would be even worse.

"We only have two options we can do right now: Dramatically increase the number of bus drivers or decrease the number of routes which means services to families," he said. "That is the only way we are going to get kids every day on time to school and get them home efficiently."

At Tuesday's meeting, the board will also learn more about driver retention and why drivers have left this school year as well as new recruitment efforts by the district.

According to board documents for Tuesday's meeting, the district has lost 99 bus drivers since July 1, 2023. Thirty-four drivers retired, 41 drivers resigned, and 24 drivers took another job with JCPS. The data says the district has only hired 68 new drivers since the same date.

JCPS also notes it contacted every former employee in January to find their reason for leaving. Top reasons included length of routes, personal reasons (medical or family related), opting instead to be a part-time substitute driver, or took a job out of JCPS.

Over the weekend, JCPS hosted a bus driver "hiring blitz" and the district said about 175 people attended. Some applicants already had a CDL license but need to complete the JCPS hiring process, which will take a few more weeks.

A vote and final decision on next year's transportation plan is expected in March.

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