LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As Jefferson County Public Schools prepare transportation plans for the upcoming school year, it will have to work on incorporating 70 TARC drivers into its mix.
An agreement between the county-wide school system and public transit system will save the jobs of about 70 TARC drivers, who were at risk of losing their jobs because of its financial state and decision to scale back routes.
Details on how JCPS will add TARC drivers are included in the draft version of a presentation expected to be given by JCPS Chief Operations Officer Rob Fulk at a board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 25.
It includes the training schedule, which notes TARC drivers are not expected to be behind the wheel of a school bus on the first day of school.
In a statement, a JCPS spokesperson said, "TARC drivers will be training with JCPS drivers on the first few weeks of school so they have experience on the buses with students before taking on their own routes."
JCPS said bringing on TARC drivers will allow it to restore some routes originally eliminated because of the ongoing bus driver shortage.
In April, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to cut transportation to thousands of students who attend the district's magnet and traditional schools, with the exception of Central and Western high schools, which both have a 75% threshold of students on free or reduced lunch.Â
"We're just trying to prepare for it as much as possible, educate ourselves, as far as like working with kids, opposed to working with the public, it's not that much of a difference, but it is a difference," said Lillian Brents, president of ATU Local 1447, the union that represents TARC drivers. "Just appreciate the opportunity to be able to experience, maintain our bills and maintain our jobs."
JCPS added that the decision to phase in TARC drivers will allow them to solidify a specific number of drivers it will have before adding back routes.
"Here in Louisville, we're making a little history here. And so we're just trying to prepare for it as much as possible, educate ourselves, as far as like working with kids, opposed to working with the public, it's not that much of a difference, but it is a difference, and so just making sure my members are properly trained, properly informed, and just making sure that they're taken care of," Brents said.
While Brents' is supportive of the partnership, she hopes it also reminds people that TARC is in a serious financial crisis.
Fulk is also expected to discuss traffic staffing and support.
According to Tuesday's presentation, JCPS has hired a traffic coordinator, Raymond Sutherland, who has 30 years of traffic experience with the Louisville Metro Police Department.
The district has also posted an assistant traffic coordinator position.
Another frustration expressed last school year was the dangers of long car-rider lines, a result of families choosing to drop students off because of busing issues.
JCPS' presentation said there are several paving projects going on to better accommodate cars, and 2,000 cones and other items have been purchased to help with traffic control. It also shares site-specific details at the request of Metro Government. JCPS notes its "influence" ends at JCPS property line.
While work is being done over the summer, parents hope it will see improvements this upcoming school year.
"There wasn’t an easy fix for this situation they just did not have enough drivers so it, if something was going to happen I guess this was the lesser of the worse that it could be but guess we’ll have to wait and see," said parent Tiandra Robinson.
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