LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Busing issues in Kentucky's largest school district may be around for a few more years, according to Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Marty Pollio.
"In the next two years, we will have an increase in routes," he said during Jefferson County Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.
Pollio said the increase is due to the district operating under two student assignment plans. Right now, families are able to choose schools close to home or far away.
"Short term, yes it's making the situation more difficult. Long term, we will see a drop once we eliminate the old student assignment plan so to speak, or the one before our 2021 vote," he said.
Pollio said that drop will happen after two years. His remarks came after board member Linda Duncan asked how Western High School's new magnet program will affect transportation, which will be open to all JCPS students.
The superintendent said it could make the situation more difficult, but having more magnet options across the city helps. He adds officials will need to make difficult decisions next year about how and who is transported.
"That's what most districts do. There's very few districts in America who transports every child to everywhere they want to go," Pollio said. "It's a great service to provide for this community, but it's just not something that is realistic."
However, parent Berkley Collins says families shouldn't lose out for choosing better performing school's further away from home. She suggests sticking to what's been done before - splitting one bus route into two trips.
"As long as I know my kids can get to school and get back home, and they can have that education that they need and that I want for them," Collins said. "I am fine and they are fine waiting at school for additional 30 minutes, an hour, an hour and a half. Whatever it is for those buses to get them in waves and take them back home."
But JCPS said that would put the district in a worse position.
"We would have 800 routes with 575 bus drivers, which would be untenable," Dr. Pollio said.
He says they're willing to meet parents a half way. As for going backwards, it's not in the district's plans.
JCPS has four options it may consider to improving transportation:
- Require all magnet and traditional students to be dropped off at a "magnet hub," or central location. From there, a bus would pick them up, take them to a depot and drop them off at school.
- Transport only free and reduced lunch magnet and traditional students.
- Transport only free and reduced lunch magnet and traditional students, but use the "magnet hub" system.
- Cut transportation for any student who attends a magnet or traditional school.
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