Lack of student discipline is creating problems for drivers, JCPS bus union leader says

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools made no major changes to its bus routes during Fall Break, saying the efficiency had improved since a disastrous opening day caused the district to cancel class for the ensuing six days.

John Stovall, the president of Teamsters Local 783, which represents the district's bus drivers, said things haven't gotten better. But he said it depends on who you ask, adding that he's he's hearing from several drivers about major concerns.

"You can't hire drivers, you can't keep drivers, and 99% of all the issues with drivers is student discipline," he said Friday. "We've got bus drivers surrounded by parents. We've got bus drivers being threatened by parents. We have parents pull in front of the bus and stop."

Two people were arrested Wednesday after chaos on a JCPS bus on Wednesday. St. Matthews Police Chief Barry Wilkerson said a bus pulled off of Shelbyville Road near Mall St. Matthews because two students were fighting. The bus driver pulled over a second time, and, according to an arrest report, children were calling their family members, who then arrived on the scene.

The arrest report said the officer got on the bus to talk to the driver, Jazzilin Williams, who told police she felt threatened by Terrence Bevly, 18, and Nicolas Byrd, 19, both of Louisville, and felt as "though she was in danger of imminent physical injury." That's when the officer said Bevly went to the driver-side window of the bus and started arguing with the driver. The officer said he told the men to leave, but they refused multiple times.

Bevly and Byrd were arrested for disorderly conduct, assault of a police officer, menacing and resisting arrest.

Williams said she feared for her safety.

"In this day and age — not only in school, outside of school — parents need to be held accountable for their kids," she said Thursday. "I know every child does not have a parent. I know not every parent can be with their children, holding their hand. But when their child is out of line, the child has to have consequences. And the parent too."

Stovall said he's working with the district and the Jefferson County School Board to improve conditions for drivers.

"I just sent a list to board members today about certain schools not giving them support and harassing them, especially when they're working long hours," he said Friday.

Stovall did not want to share the list of schools publicly.

Meanwhile, it's been a rough week for bus delays. Some schools had two-and-a-half, three-and-a-half and four-hour bus delays Friday. There were other four-hour bus delays earlier in the week.

JCPS said 50 bus drivers called out Wednesday, 49 called out Thursday, and 59 called out Friday. Stovall said he's sure that some drivers "feel they need to take a stand in (calling out) to show them we're tired. We're fed up."

"Friday and Monday are our highest call in days, and this number is on par with what we see on other Fridays," Carolyn Callahan, chief of communications for JCPS, said in a written statement Friday. "As for bus delays, we are in a bus driver shortage. JCPS does not cancel routes like some other districts, so when drivers call in, other drivers need to pick up those routes after they finish their assigned routes."

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Lack of student discipline is creating problems for drivers, JCPS bus union leader says