LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The car rider pickup line at Coleridge-Taylor Elementary snaked around the rear parking lot Wednesday afternoon.
The school could have its bus service return after route cuts to magnet and traditional schools put the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) transportation system back on track.
"The way they have the car lines setup, it's improved more than last year," Don-Nech'ka Dorsey said while waiting in the line at Coleridge-Taylor.
Students eligible for free and reduced lunch at Male, duPont Manual and Butler Traditional high schools are also part of the restoration plan, along with all students at Johnson Traditional Middle and Young Elementary schools.
"We're used to waiting for anywhere to 40 minutes; so if we can get a bus, that's going to significantly reduce the car-rider line as well," Cishella Durling said, who was a couple dozen cars behind Dorsey at Coleridge-Taylor. "Whatever we can do to help, we should be doing it."
While principals and board members applauded the district's progress this year at Tuesday night's board meeting, Superintendent Marty Pollio said 60 of the 70 incoming TARC drivers must pass their certifications before he can recommend route restorations. So far, 19 drivers have passed the written and road tests required by law to take the wheel of a school bus in Kentucky.
"We are confident that we will get to that number, but a recommendation will come once we get there and that will be at the Sept. 3 board meeting," Pollio said.
If those routes are restored, it would be after fall break.
However, there could be another bump in the road: approval of that recommendation from the JCPS board. A couple members expressed hesitation Tuesday night.
"I almost hate to even talk about anything else, touching anything else, I certainly don't want to sacrifice on-time," board member Linda Duncan said.
Board member James Craig agreed.
"My preference from operations going forward is on-time service as well, not necessarily transportation to everybody which sounds like a lofty goal," he said.
The JCPS bus driver union president told WHAS11 News that he thanked the district for its cooperation, and shared he is working with Congressman Morgan McGarvey on federal legislation to address a nationwide bus driver shortage.
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