LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Months after announcing cuts to Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) transportation for magnet and charter schools, JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio said the district is close to the number of drivers they need for him to recommend route reinstatements.
"I think we're down to our last few so we may have to, we'll probably do something in January with that," Pollio said.
The district was aiming to have 60 certified TARC drivers on the road by October, a timeline that has since been pushed back.
As the semester comes to a close, Pollio is gearing up for his last six months as the district's leader, and said he is focused on setting his replacement up for success.
"We'd really like the new superintendent to be able to come in, hit the ground running, and not have to make some real tough decisions right off the bat," Pollio said.
And as the search for the next district leader continues, local organizations are watching the process closely - including incoming Louisville NAACP president Raymond Burse.
"There's a new leadership in terms of new superintendent becoming on board, new board members coming on board, and then we got the study commission of looking at the possibility of breaking up JCPS," Burse said.
Former Louisville NAACP president of 23 years Raoul Cunningham said JCPS is one of the organization's main goals moving into 2025.
"The NAACP must be involved in that selection," Cunningham said. "As we go into the incoming year, transportation must be restored to magnet and traditional schools."
JCPS Board Chair Corrie Shull said community involvement is the plan for the superintendent selection process. He said a community advisory committee will be formed to give the community and stakeholder a say in the next school leader.
"We want to make sure that we bring everyone along on this process, and so we want to provide as much transparency as possible and be as open with this process we possibly can," Shull said.
Right now, the school board is still selecting an executive search firm to lead the national search for a new superintendent, the firm is set to be chosen in January.
"I think that the board is staying on top of its work. We are on target as it relates to our timeline," Shull said.
He said once the firm is selected, then the board will be able to start reaching out to the community and stakeholders for their feedback.
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