LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Families with students at Jefferson County Public Schools can expect the same start times next year.

On Tuesday, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to keep the current start times in place.

In May, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to change start times for about 40 schools, going from nine to three start times for the 2024-25 school year. Schools currently start at either 7:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m. or 9:40 a.m.

During the school board meeting, one person shared frustration with the bulk of elementary schools starting at 9:40 a.m. Many people have said they'd prefer middle and high schools to start at the later time.

But JCPS decided to keep things the same for next year. The state's largest district didn't want to change routines for families for a third year in a row.

"That makes next year much more predictable for the bus drivers, for the schools and so changing that three years in a row for our bus drivers, for our families, for our schools I think really is just not the right time," said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio.

For decades, JCPS had just two start times. But due to transportation issues stemming from a bus driver shortage, JCPS changed its start times to nine different times for the 2023-2024 school year. The district then consolidated to the three current times starting this school year. The school district said with the improvements this year, students are getting to school on time. That was another reason JCPS kept school start times the same.

Tricia Lister, the newly elected board member serving out the remainder of Chris Kolb's term, pointed out that part of the success for buses is because transportation was cut for thousands of students. In April, the school board voted to cut transportation for most magnet and traditional schools.

JCPS also said it's closing in on enough bus drivers to possibly restore transportation for some magnet and traditional students. The school district said it is six bus drivers away from restoring routes.

The district previously said 70 TARC drivers are expected to transition over to JCPS, a deal worked out between the school district and city's public transit system, as TARC deals with a financial crisis. The drivers otherwise risked being laid off.

The district said it would restore transportation for students at Male, Manual and Butler on free or reduced lunch, all students at Johnson Traditional Middle School, and students at Coleridge Taylor and Young elementary schools.

Even though TARC drivers are accustomed to navigating an oversized vehicle full of people, an extra certification is required to driver a school bus in Kentucky. The written exam is an additional certification, on top of their Commercial Driver's License. It contains questions specific to school buses that a bus driver for TARC wouldn't have to worry about.

The process to transition TARC has moved slower than expected. JCPS said it would restore routes once it has 68 TARC drivers certified.

The school district said it is six bus drivers away from restoring routes.

"Once we get that number and should have that in the next four to six weeks as it's going through testing," Pollio said.

The school district said once it reaches 68 drivers, it will need several more weeks to survey parents who want transportation back. Pollio said the earliest routes could be restored is early 2025.

Pollio announced in September his plans to retire July 1, 2025 after eight years in the role. The 53-year-old previously said his retirement has been in the works for awhile, signing a three-year extension in 2022.

The school board is in charge of choosing the next superintendent. 

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