LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Nearly a year after the JCPS transportation disaster, a legislative task force met to study the state's largest school district's administration and suggest reforms ahead of the 2024-25 school year.
For the last several years, JCPS has struggled to recruit enough bus drivers, resulting in buses running delayed, up to several hours.
In attempt to resolve the problem, JCPS changed from just two to nine start times, and partnered with out of state routing company AlphaRoute to maximize transportation with its limited drivers.
However, the first day of school with new start times and bus routes, proved to be disastrous for the district. The first day was plagued with bus delays in the morning and the afternoon. Some students' buses never showed up that morning, and others didn't get dropped off from school that evening until almost 10 p.m.
On Monday, the task force made up of lawmakers, a principal, teacher, two parents and a business leader met. House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers established the Efficient and Effect School District Governance Task Force in May.
Five citizen members were appointed to the task force, which is comprised of a 13-member panel.
"I would’ve loved for more parents or more community people, but also those classified staff in JCPS," Angela Masden said. "The data said that we had way more classified operating our schools than we do certified. I thought that would've been good, like those janitors or the lunch ladies, the secretary that gets all the questions, the accounts payable person, the people that are really the glue.”
Masden is one of the parents included in the task force, which was selected to review the administrative functions and learning outcomes school districts with more than 75,000 students. JCPS is the only district in Kentucky with that many students.
Some lawmakers have argued the district should be split.
“It was really interesting to just really kind of know about JCPS in another light, because as a parent, I only know sometimes as negative, but it was good to hear all of the aspects, all of the good things that are happening and also, you know, the disconnections that we have," Masden said.
On Monday, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio and other district leaders gave a general overview of the school district, including the make up of the administration and the board of education. They also shared information on schools focused on career and technical education and how the district is spending its nearly $2 billion budget.
Pollio acknowledged an absentee problem. He said around 31,000 students missed 10% or more of the school year. That message seemed to surprise some members of the task force as they addressed it after the presentation was over.
Pollio said that absenteeism and staffing are the two biggest challenges the district is currently facing.
JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio speaks to a task force in Frankfort, Ky. on July 15, 2024.
"Despite the challenges we face and we know what they are," Pollio said. "We've talked about most around vacancies, that being a huge thing, especially around teacher vacancies and bus driver vacancies. It makes the job really, really hard, but I've never been more optimistic about the future of JCPS than I am right now."
Five more meetings are set to take place through November. The task force is scheduled to meet next on July 29. All members of the task force have voting privileges.
The panel is a direct result of House Concurrent Resolution 81, which the Kentucky General Assembly adopted during the 2024 legislative session. Sponsored by Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, the measure called for a working group to review the administrative functions and learning outcomes of school districts that have more than 75,000 students. Fleming is also a member of the task force.
Co-chair Sen. Jason Nemes said while splitting up the district has been broached as a possible outcome in the past that is not the sole intent of the task force.
More JCPS Transportation Coverage:
- JCPS board of education to vote on new transportation plan during special meeting Wednesday
- JCPS board of education tables vote on new transportation plan as it discusses audit results
- JCPS board chair concerned about access to magnet schools if buses cut
- JCPS transportation lead questions results of district audit as revamped busing plan sits on hold
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