LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) leaders prepare to implement a new transportation plan in the fall, and consolidate start times from nine to three, the lack of bus drivers continues to loom large.
The district has called the staffing shortage an overarching roadblock to consistently getting kids to school and back home on time.
But why are drivers leaving, and what can JCPS do to keep the ones they have?
Through an open records request, WHAS11 obtained portions of the exit interviews for every JCPS bus driver who's left since last summer-- just before the start of the 2023-24 school year.
In recent months, JCPS Board of Education members and community leaders have all speculated what the biggest driving force could be for the high turnover: pay, student discipline, the major bus route changes.
But we learned the answers are very much a combination.
According to the district's records, out of the 47 bus drivers who've left since last June -- 31 resigned, 15 retired, and one person was removed by JCPS because of a 'criminal records check' issue.
And out of the resignations, more than half cited either their schedules, the new routes, or the work environment -- including student discipline -- as the reasons for quitting.
One man who resigned said he "cannot drive a school bus, stay on schedule and keep the children safe with the new bus schedule."
Another wrote, "Routes are too long for him to care for family."
One woman even said she's endured abuse, writing, "The physical assault committed against me regarding an automatic airsoft rifle which was discharged at me and the bus."
Fast forward to April 2024, and the district is in the midst of a major transportation overhaul, saying they're cutting routes to lesson the burden on each driver. Also, months ago, JCPS launched a new referral process to speed up responses for bus incidents.
Notably, the one issue we didn't see as a reason for quitting is pay.
Interestingly enough, incoming Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said this week he believes JCPS bus driver salaries are in a good place.
"I think it comes down to people. It may not be a money issue for Louisville. It may be more about how do you recruit those people?" Fletcher said at his introduction as KDE Commissioner-Elect Monday.
The district has said the driver shortage grows worse by the year. They're expecting to be down nearly 30 more drivers by this July (from 553 to around 526). Their goal from here is to hire as many as they can to offset that trend.
Right now, the average salary for a JCPS bus driver sits just over $55,000 annually.
Meanwhile, in those exit interviews, a handful of bus drivers cited moving as a reason for their resignation. Others said they had personal health responsibilities that needed attention.
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