The head of the bus drivers' union said the longer the decision is delayed the more likely it is that drivers will walk away from the job.
JCPS bus drivers' union president says students must face consequences for violent acts on buses.
Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said the district is behind the curve when it comes to start times, and he wants to see them change.
John Stovall, president of Teamsters Local 783, said Monday that some members of his labor union have inquired about the hiring process for the new safety officer positions approved Thursday by the Jefferson County Board of Education.
JCPS bus drivers wrote 1,016 behavior referrals through the first 24 days of the current school year, the first on a regular in-person learning schedule since 2019-20.
JCPS Chief Operations Officer Chris Perkins said the district hopes to have more help in the drivers’ seats soon, and he noted that the district has not had to cancel services because of the ongoing crunch.
The boards of two labor groups representing JCPS employees – the Jefferson County Teachers Association and the Jefferson County Association of Educational Support Personnel – have voted to support such a measure, leaders told WDRB News on Friday.
Kentucky’s largest school district has all its 771 bus routes covered but is still looking for more drivers. John Stovall, president of Teamsters Local 783, says the district is short at least 100 drivers and confirmed that drivers on staff are dealing with crowded buses and students standing in aisles.
Officials for the drivers' union say they're still working out terms with the district for social distancing rules and whether or not students will have assigned seats on the bus.
District and union leaders reached an agreement allowing bus drivers and other transportation employees to transition to other roles within JCPS while students learn remotely.