LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to change start times for about 40 schools, parents are dealing with uncertainty and some tough decisions.

Mind-boggling and unsettling. That's how one Jefferson County Public Schools parent described the change in start times.

The district is going from nine start times to three: 7:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m., and 9:40 a.m. at about 40 of its schools. The school board voted 4-3 to pass the changes during its meeting Tuesday evening.

The uncertainty for families like the Washingtons, who have four kids in JCPS, is starting to take its toll. 

"I just wish it would go back to the way it was," Victoria Washington said.

Washington's oldest, Taveya, takes the bus to and from Seneca High School every day. Recently, her bus didn't pick her up until 10 a.m. School starts at 8:40 a.m. Taveya said it's the same thing coming home.

"This bus driver didn't get to the school until like 4:45, and I didn't get home 'til like 6," Taveya Washington said. "This man did not know where he was going at all."

Taveya's start time won't change next year, but the uncertainty is making her mom second guess sending her siblings on the bus.

"The unknown is, it gives me chills not knowing where my kid's at, if they're on the bus, if they're at school, if I gotta pick them up, who's gonna pick them up," Victoria Washington said. "It is just mind-boggling and unsettling for me, especially with young ones."

For other families who have to make tough decisions for next school year, JCPS said the transfer window is open, and it's the same process it has been. Families who want to apply for a transfer can fill out the application by clicking here.

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.

Families who are no longer eligible for transportation next year should have already received a survey link from the district.

As for Victoria Washington, she's worried next August is going to be similar to what they saw at the beginning of this year.

"It's in the back of my mind like this could happen again," she said. "The same thing that happened this school year could happen again next school year. It's just, ugh."

Many families have expressed their frustrations with the district's transportation problems since the first day of school last August, when some students didn't get home until almost 10 p.m. It was the first day with nine start times across the district, and the first day with consolidated bus routes to deal with driver shortages.

The district canceled school for a week after that to improve logistics. But the problems have persisted.

The district also set up this webpage for new information about next school year.

WDRB News wants to hear from you about your transportation experiences. Fill out our survey by clicking here.

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