LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) bus drivers are predicting a lot less bus issues this year.
"Of course, you know, the first week of school, times might be a little off. But parent's will be a whole lot happier this year," Ronyell Hamby said, who's been a JCPS bus driver for 16 years.
Drivers like Hamby had the opportunity to begin practicing their routes this week. The new routes are a lot more localized and about 60% are "mirrored", meaning they're the same in the morning and afternoon. The head of the bus drivers union said last week, "If all goes according to plan, the last student should be dropped off by 6 p.m."
A main reason why the bus routes are easier this year is that thousands of parents lost transportation in April.
This spring, the district voted to cut transportation to all magnet and traditional schools that have below 75% free and reduced lunch-eligible students.
"I would say that it's not a luxury. I think it's the district's responsibility to get students to schools," Erin Hinson said, who had one son lose bus transit.
Hinson has been busy in carpooling groups in the lead-up to the school year, and has agreed to take one student to school who she's never met. That student's parent has agreed to help pay for gas money.
JCPS parents who lost transit can apply for a stipend at "the end of August" that will be either $5 or $10 per day.
"My husband and I have already spoken about –that money's gonna go towards an Uber Teen account for the days in which nobody can get downtown to pick him up," Hinson said. Her son Oliver lost his transit to Noe Middle School's gifted and talented program.
The district has pledged to restore as many of the magnet and traditional routes as possible when up to 70 TARC drivers join their bus driving staff in the next few weeks. Hinson thinks many families might not able to figure out a solution in the meantime.
"I would be curious to see what the truancy numbers are going to look like in October and November," she said.
Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said in April that this was the hardest situation he's ever had to navigate as superintendent, and that staying with last year's routes just wasn't an option.
Hamby said for the more than 40,000 students that still have transit, and the district's more than 500 bus drivers, it should be a much easier year.
"Last year, my route…I did a lot of driving. Over 200 miles per day," Hamby said. "This year, I'm maybe about…probably 100."
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