JCPS budgeted $12.6M to pay parents for transportation this school year

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- In October, Jefferson County Public Schools paid out over $2 million in bus stipends for nearly 11,000 students. The payments from December are even higher and for a fewer number of students.

Data obtained via open records request found that JCPS paid out $2,456,635 in December for transportation stipends for 10,164 students. That's for transportation from October and November.

Approximately 17,000 students were eligible for the stipends after the district cut transportation for many magnet and traditional schools and those who attend Academies of Louisville.

Families received $5 per day or $10 per day to take their kids to school if they qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For December, the top five schools for stipend checks:

Louisville Male High School: 1,057 students, $255,945
Manual High School: 1,184 students, $240,450
Butler Traditional High School: 675 students, $182,495
Jefferson County Traditional Middle School: 545 students, $139,570
Noe Middle School: 565 students, $120,165

At Manual and Noe, the majority of stipends went to students of families who are not on free and reduced lunch. JCPS reminds families that stipends do qualify as taxable income and the money is coming from the district's general fund.

Additional stipend payouts are scheduled for March and June, providing ongoing financial relief for parents navigating the district's transportation challenges.

JCPS spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said in a written statement Tuesday that the district earmarked $12.6 million for bus stipends in the 2024-25 school year.

"We recognized that making the difficult, but necessary decision to stop providing transportation to some schools and programs would negatively impact some families," Callahan said. "Stipends for the impacted families is a good faith way to soften the impact. We have budgeted $12.6 million for stipends this school year, which is being partially offset by savings from using less fuel and needing less maintenance for our bus fleet."

As far as the bus driver shortage, JCPS said it now has enough bus drivers to restore some routes. JCPS has said it would consider restoring routes for Male, Manual and Butler high school students on free or reduced lunch, all students at Johnson Traditional Middle School and all students at Coleridge Taylor and Young elementary schools. But Superintendent Marty Pollio believes any bus routes being restored may not happen until March.

The Jefferson County Board of Education would still need to approve the plan.

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