LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A year after the transportation breakdown that kicked off the 2023 school year, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is teaming up with TARC for additional bus drivers to ensure students and parents don't experience the same headaches.
On Tuesday, 38 out of 70 TARC drivers took a written test, eye test, and got their picture taken to work with JCPS. Later this week, drivers will begin taking their busses out for road tests.
"They have to get their S-Class permit, and then go through Kentucky school bus curriculum training, the classroom component and then the road test," Rob Fulk, the school district's chief operating officer, said.
Currently, TARC drivers use a CDL, or commercial driver's license. In order to get that license, JCPS needed help from the state.
"The goal of the drivers testing here today ensures the testing and licensing of qualified school drivers to safely transport the students at JCPS," Kentucky State Police Captain Chris Baker said.
Rob Stephens, chief operating officer with TARC, was excited to start this new chapter with JCPS.
"We're glad to be part of a solution that helps solve a community problem," he said. "I believe everyone is grateful to be here today and help solve something that is a community issue."
The district said it's newly-launched Bus Teller Portal is important tool for parents this year. The portal allows parents and guardians to see which bus stop is assigned to their student. JCPS said this information will be updated daily.
One parent told WHAS11, so far, it's a day and night difference between the two school years.
"It was pretty seamless to get on there just give them my email address and kids date of birth. It pulls up all my children and all their bus stops, I don't need to put in my address, so it was probably easier to access than the bus finder last year," he said.
JCPS said the new TARC drivers will begin practicing their routes on Friday. The school year begins on August 8.
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