JCPS shares updated bus stops, staffing needs and budget outlook ahead of first day

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — With JCPS students heading back to school next week, families are navigating a mix of concerns — buses, budgets, and a teacher shortage.

New Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood addressed all three concerns during his first Community Conversations forum Monday night at Seneca High School. It's part of a series of public events aimed at hearing from parents and staff directly.

Also Monday, JCPS released bus stop locations and pickup times. Families can find details on the JCPSFirstDay.com website, under the Transportation Portal. There, parents can look up their child’s bus number, stop location, and estimated pick-up and drop-off times. The district said that information will update daily — and routes may continue to shift even after school starts.

Parents with questions can call the district’s 485-RIDE hotline on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To guarantee a bus stop on day one, parents had to submit the Transportation Verification Form by June 13. No new stops will be added before August 18 as drivers continue to learn their routes.

Families who used to receive stipend payments for driving magnet school students will not receive those payments this year. Despite past transportation problems, Yearwood said he’s optimistic about the first day of school.

"I am very optimistic, the only variable is if someone calls in sick we have no control over that," Yearwood said. "If someone has a family emergency, we have no control over that. But the way things are lining up right now, all of the metrics, we are locked in and ready to go."

Yearwood also addressed the district’s massive budget shortfall Monday evening. In May, JCPS approved a tentative budget for the 2025–26 school year that cut nearly $100 million in spending. With COVID relief funds now gone, JCPS is running a deficit and expects more cuts — and possibly a tax hike — in the next few years.

Yearwood emphasized that the process will involve staff and community members.

“We must preserve salaries for teachers and staff,” Yearwood said. “Making sure we maintain a quality instructional environment, those are two non-negotiables for me.”

Yearwood said he expects to have a clearer picture of what cuts could look like by late fall or early spring. 

Another problem plaquing the district is a shortage in teachers, as the district still needs about 330 teachers, roughly the same number it lacked at this time last year.

“There is a possibility we may have some long-term subs in the classroom,” Yearwood said. “It’s not ideal, and we'll be working to remedy that. We are looking every which way to recruit to retain, to make sure that our students have a quality educational experience.”

JCPS currently has more than 500 job postings listed online, including more than 100 instructional assistant positions. Yearwood acknowledged that low pay is making it hard to fill instructional assistant jobs, however, he said in order to fill those vacant positions the district will search, locally, nationally, and internationally if necessary. 

The Community Conversations forum at Seneca High was the first of seven events planned throughout the district. All are free and open to the public, and give families a chance to share concerns directly with leadership.

The first day of school for JCPS is Thursday, Aug. 7. 

Related Stories:

JCPS bus finder, hotline opens Monday for Louisville families before first day of school

Back to school preparations underway across Louisville Catholic schools

JCPS hosting ‘Community Conversations’ with new superintendent Brian Yearwood

Kentuckiana's back-to-school guide for 2025-26 school year

JCPS spends part of $20M donation on billboard thanking outgoing superintendent

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.