LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A request for a temporary restraining order to stop Jefferson County Public Schools' new transportation plan has been denied over a procedural error.
Last week, some parents of JCPS students asked a judge to grant a temporary restraining order that would stop the school district's new transportation plan. The court filing asked a judge to put a hold on JCPS moving forward with the plan.
In April, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to cut transportation to all magnet and traditional schools, which impacts more than 14,000 students. The board voted to add exceptions for Central High School and Western High School students because both schools have more than 75% of students on free or reduced lunch.
The original federal civil rights lawsuit was filed on June 20 by two JCPS parents, who said their kids, who are set to attend Male High School, Central High School and Whitney Young Elementary School in August, may now have to enroll in less desirable neighborhood schools due to a lack of bus service.
The lawsuit claims the district's bus plan, passed in April, has a disproportionately negative effect on students of color and violates their civil rights.
The decision to cut transportation to magnet and traditional schools, the parents allege, will "intentionally cause high schools in lower socio-economic neighborhoods to become overcrowded, continued havens for violence, and cause abysmal educational outcomes to become even worse."
On Monday, the temporary restraining order was denied because "no facts" in the complaint show that "immediate injury, loss, or damage will result to plaintiffs before defendants can be heard." The judge said the temporary restraining order is "an extraordinary measure" that can only be granted if it "clearly shows that such relief is warranted."
The judge is also giving the plaintiffs until Monday to amend their motion and correct "a minor procedural error" before refiling.
JCPS has maintained that the only option to keep buses on schedule and students on time is to cut transportation for all magnet and traditional schools, which would impact more than 14,000 students. For the last several years, JCPS has struggled to recruit enough bus drivers, resulting in buses running delayed, up to several hours. Last school year, the state's largest school district dealt with the same problems.
Previous Coverage:
- Attorney files request for temporary restraining order to stop JCPS transportation plan
- JCPS announces deadline to submit address changes, newly launched bus finder tool
- JCPS, halfway through summer, lays out plan to incorporate TARC bus drivers
- West Louisville church hosts community forum to find solutions for JCPS transportation issue
- Denying bus service to 14,000 JCPS students violates their civil rights, lawsuit claims
- JCPS says transportation not guaranteed for all students next school year
- Options considered to improve JCPS bus issues include cutting routes, paying parents
- JCPS considering ways to decrease bus routes to minimize delays next school year
- Here are the JCPS schools that will lose transportation under district's new plan
- Some JCPS parents angry over decision to cut transportation for magnet, traditional schools
- JCPS board votes to cut transportation to magnet, traditional schools with exceptions following heated debate
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