Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced a partnership to lease 70 TARC drivers to JCPS to address a bus driver shortage and restore some bus routes. This plan, pending board approvals, aims to prevent TARC driver layoffs due to ARPA funding ending. The drivers will remain TARC employees but be paid by JCPS. The agreement is set to last one year, with the TARC Board voting on it Friday and JCPS later this month.
Jefferson County Public Schools board members have approved changes to start times for at least two dozen public schools, aiming to end bus transportation for most magnet schools and consolidate all schools to three start times: 7:40, 8:40, or 9:40 a.m. The district has struggled with efficiency and getting students to school on time, prompting the decision to streamline start times. Specific time slots for each school have not been announced, and some schools may move to a different time slot.
Jefferson County Board of Education members voted to end busing for the majority of the district's magnet students, except for two high schools with high poverty rates. This decision, made in a meeting that sparked community outrage, will affect at least 14,000 students and result in 4-5 million minutes of lost instruction time. The vote was split along racial lines, and the district will now have to address the impact on families and potential overcrowding in resides schools. The decision has led to calls for the resignation of the superintendent and some board members.
Jefferson County Public Schools is considering a new transportation plan to address a severe bus driver shortage, with options including eliminating transportation for some students, operating central hubs for magnet and traditional schools, or maintaining the current system. The district's analysis indicates that only the option to provide transportation for resident students would reduce the number of routes and alleviate bus delays, but it comes with its own challenges. With the shortage expected to worsen next year, the board will make a final decision in March, while also exploring driver retention and recruitment efforts.
Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky will have another Non-Traditional Instruction day on Wednesday due to forecasted frigid temperatures, with students learning virtually for the second day in a row. Temperatures are expected to be in the single digits with wind chills below zero degrees, prompting the decision. Teachers had previously sent students home with Chromebooks and three days worth of NTI work in case schools aren’t able to reopen until later in the week, as each Kentucky district can use up to 10 NTI days in a school year. Additionally, the city saw minor snowfall accumulation on Monday, with the next chance of additional snowfall expected late Thursday afternoon.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Louisville, Kentucky, opted for a Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) day on Tuesday due to severe winter weather and frigid temperatures, with road conditions and wind chills expected to be hazardous. All extracurricular and athletic activities were canceled, and students and families had received school-specific NTI plans in advance.
Over 140 bus drivers for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Kentucky called out, resulting in the cancellation of 123 bus routes. The drivers are frustrated with the lack of discipline on the buses and being subjected to verbal abuse. JCPS has made efforts to address the discipline issues, but the problems persist. Discussions have taken place at JCPS School Board meetings regarding student behavior and potential solutions, such as long-term suspensions or removals from bus services. The superintendent is open to exploring these options, while some principals have implemented the discipline code's 20-day bus suspension option to address bus fights.
JCPS (Jefferson County Public Schools) in Louisville, Kentucky, canceled over 100 bus routes on Monday after 143 bus drivers called out sick, nearly a quarter of the district's drivers. The sick out is part of a protest against a lack of student discipline and long bus routes. Parents were left scrambling to find alternative transportation for their children, with some resorting to using Uber. The ongoing driver shortage has caused consistent delays and disruptions in getting students to school. JCPS officials have apologized for the inconvenience and stated that absences will be excused for students affected by the canceled routes.
Dozens of bus drivers for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Kentucky called out sick for the second day in a row, leading to the cancellation of at least 47 transportation routes for Monday. The district had already experienced a high number of driver absences on Friday. Despite the driver shortage, classes will not be canceled, and non-traditional instruction will not be an option. The drivers' sickout is not union-backed, and absences will be excused for students affected by transportation issues. JCPS had originally scheduled an off day for Monday but had to cancel classes due to transportation problems.
At least 85 bus drivers have called out for Monday, resulting in the cancellation of 47 bus routes in Jefferson County Public Schools. The drivers cite issues with student behavior, long routes, and a lack of support from the school district. The "sickout" is directed towards district leaders, and the district is changing the student discipline process in response. More drivers are expected to call out, and families are encouraged to find alternative transportation. Absences will be excused for affected students.
Dozens of bus routes in the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) district in Kentucky were canceled on Monday due to a sickout by bus drivers protesting long hours, overcrowded buses, and logistical challenges. The district had already experienced delayed routes on Friday due to driver absences. By Monday morning, a total of 143 drivers had called out sick, prompting the district to proactively cancel routes. This comes after a transportation debacle at the beginning of the school year that led to a week of missed classes.
Nearly 90 bus drivers from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) called out on Friday, causing delays in bus routes. The drivers are protesting against a lack of student discipline and long bus routes. JCPS has been facing consistent driver shortages this school year, resulting in delays of up to three to four hours. The bus drivers' union president expects more call-outs on Monday. JCPS officials are working on implementing changes, including an online referral system, to address the drivers' concerns.
Dozens of bus drivers from Jefferson County Public School called out on Friday, causing transportation delays. 92 drivers called out, compared to the normal average of 50. However, all students were dropped off by 7:18 p.m., with most dropped off by 6:40 p.m. JCPS Chief of Communications and Community Relations, Carolyn Callahan, provided perspective on previous Fridays' drop-off times.
A second-grader from Luhr Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky, suffered "very serious" injuries after being hit by a Jefferson County Public Schools bus. The 8-year-old boy was crossing the street when he was struck by the bus, which did not have any students on board and was not headed to Luhr. The child was taken to Norton Children's Hospital in critical but stable condition. The Louisville Metro Police Department's Traffic Unit is investigating the incident.
Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, have canceled all outdoor middle and elementary school sports for the rest of the week due to dangerous heat indexes. The Kentucky High School Athletic Association requires outdoor activities to be stopped if the heat index rises above 104 degrees. High school football games will start after 7:30 p.m. to avoid extreme temperatures. Safety measures, including cold immersion tubs, will be implemented to monitor signs of heat illness. The decision comes after the tragic death of Max Gilpin, a teenager who died from heat stroke during football practice 15 years ago.
