JCPS opens hotline, bus portal ahead of first day of school

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- JCPS bus drivers are out on the roads practicing their routes ahead of the first day of school and tools for parents are being made available, earlier.

Monday, JCPS drivers received their routes for the 2024-25 school year to begin practicing.

Drivers shared optimistic responses completing their first day of practice routes.

"A lot of us are going to be doing our routes every day this week and continue on until school starts," one bus driver told WDRB. "By the time the year starts hopefully it won't be hectic like the last time."

JCPS said roughly 65% of bus routes mirror each other, meaning drivers' morning routes reflect afternoon routes.

The driver who spoke to WDRB shared many routes are closer to compounds as well.

Both were two complaints made by drivers after receiving routes last school year produced by the company Alpha Route, a routing company based in Massachusetts. This year, JCPS created its own routes with an internal team.

"A lot of bus drivers are very happy," said one driver.

Parent tools

JCPS also rolled out two tools to help parents on Monday: its transportation hotline and bus stop portal.

Parents can now access its Bus Teller portal. Bus Teller will allow parents to see the bus stop and time assigned to their child.

JCPS encourages families to check the portal daily, as location or times may change.

Click here: Bus Teller Portal Link

JCPS told WDRB some families have reached out regarding bus stop times being just a few minutes before the first bell. The district said it is addressing those concerns.

The hotline has also opened, two weeks earlier this year to help families with questions or concerns.

To access the hotline, dial 485-RIDE.

The hotline will be open five days a week, taking calls from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., though hours may be adjusted depending on call volume. The hotline will remain open several days into the school year.

JCPS said its bus tracking app EduLog will also be available for parents to track their student's buses this school year.

Freeze period

Monday marked the beginning of a temporary "freeze period" on adding new bus stops.

Families must have completed the Transportation Verification Form by July 22 and indicated if they will need transportation, if eligible, to ensure their child will have have a bus stop on the first day of school.

JCPS said it will not add new stops after July 22. New bus stops will not be added until the week of Aug. 12.

The district said its goal is to ensure routes run smoothly the first few weeks before the first few days of school.

JCPS said families that have not filled out the form need to still complete it and indicate if they plan to use JCPS transportation.

Stipends

JCPS will offer stipends to families who have lost transportation, except students that attend the Brown School or Central and Western High Schools.

Eligible parents could receive $5 per day or $10 per school day to parents of students who qualify for free and reduced lunches to transport their child.

According to Tuesday's meeting agenda, stipends will roll out during the year.

Parents will sign up beginning the week of Aug. 26. Payments will begin the week of Sept. 9, and back payments from August will be completed by Sept. 23.

Stipends will be considered taxable income.

School bus and TARC drivers

Also according to Tuesday's meeting agenda, JCPS has 561 bus drivers and 510 routes. That is not including drivers expected to come drive for JCPS from TARC.

JCPS anticipates 70 drivers from TARC will be available to drive for JCPS.

The city's bus drivers already have their CDL, but need to have an additional certification for driving school buses.

JCPS said 12 of those 70 TARC drivers have the additional certification.

To help expedite the certification process, Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will host a special testing and licensing event in Louisville on Tuesday.

JCPS said as many as 38 drivers will take the test, and if pass, receive the additional certification on the same day.

School board meeting

The JCPS Board of Education will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Van Hoose Education Center and will receive a transportation update before the first day of school.

JCPS starts back to school on Thursday, Aug. 8. For more first day of school information, click here.

More JCPS Coverage:

JCPS opens hotline, bus portal ahead of first day of school