Jefferson County Teachers Association concerned about new JCPS transportation plan

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Jefferson County Teachers Association is concerned the school district made decisions about a new transportation plan without input from certain people.

The Jefferson County Board of Education last week voted four to three to cut transportation for most magnet and traditional schools, but students who attend Central and Western high schools will be able to ride the bus. Those two schools were exempt because more than 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Jefferson County Public Schools acknowledged that even with this plan, it will still result in delays in the morning and afternoon for students. The continuing bus issues will cost students millions of minutes of instructional time in the classroom.

The district plans to consolidate start times, going from nine different start times down to just three. The new schedule will have schools start at 7:40 a.m., 8:40 a.m. and 9:40 a.m.

Tuesday, JCTA spoke out about the plan at the school district's board meeting, and said the change will affect students of color.

"JCTA calls upon the school board to make this right with the community," said Ryan Davis, with JCTA.

The union believes a decision of this magnitude should be made at a regularly scheduled meeting so people can weigh in.

JCTA opposes changes in the plan that would predetermine student assignment decisions because it could contribute to greater inequity or put student safety at risk. The union said more work needs to be done.

"The association believes that the work of addressing the transportation crisis is not yet complete," Davis said.

JCTA said the school board is leaving out key stakeholders in decisions and needs to be more inclusive.

"Ensure all students and families have equitable access to higher caliber schools," said Maddie Shepard, JCTA president-elect. "Such a plan must ensure that these schools are equitably resourced and staffed."

JCTA also suggested programs that could mirror magnet schools in other parts of Jefferson County that could help the situation.

"Every child deserves a quality education close to home and a plan that does this may even help alleviate busing challenges we've been facing recently," Shepard said.

Since many students will likely transfer to their resides school in order to keep a ride, boundaries for K-6 elementary schools could also change. But the district is still working all of that out, according to JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio.

"I'm telling you this has absolutely gutted me, absolutely gutted me for the past six or seven months on what to do and what is the right answer in this situation," Pollio previously said.

Now parents are left with a difficult decision — keeping their child in a magnet or traditional school without transportation, or transfer them to their resides school.

The transfer period starts on May 6. The district said the Student Transfer Application may not be used to apply to a magnet school. If the school is full at the requested grade level, JCPS said the student will have the option of filling out a wait list request. However, capacity at reside schools is a concern. JCPS administrators estimate around 25% of students at each middle and traditional school will transfer to a reside.

For parents who will drive their kids to magnet and traditional schools, JCPS will pay them by providing "stipends." At a previous board meeting, the district said that would be $10 per school day given to parents of students who qualify for free and reduced lunches, and $5 per day for parents of other students.

Under a 170-day school year, the stipends could be worth $850 to $1,700 depending on the family's income. JCPS said the stipends could cost the district $6 million to $7.6 million per year.

The district said the average pay for bus drivers is $55,000 a year with base pay starting at $22.78 an hour, but drivers can earn up to $38.78 an hour with incentives for perfect attendance and driving challenging routes.

JCPS said currently it has 558 drivers but over 563 routes, the district already starts the day underwater. On top of that, JCPS averages 52 drivers absent daily.

To apply to become a JCPS bus driver, click here.

Related Stories: