'There's just no other way around it': JCPS school board weighs three potential transportation options

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) board members will have the next four to five weeks before they decide what transportation will look like next school year.

Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio made it clear something has to change since the district is projecting to start with 526 bus drivers next year. That's less than last year.

"We cannot continue the same way which one of the options is to continue the same way and expect students to get to school on time and get home on time," he said.

The board is facing three options:

• Option 1 -- Provides transportation to reside schools only, which eliminates transportation to most magnet and traditional schools. This would affect about 478 routes.
• Option 2 -- Creates a hub for magnet and traditional students where families are responsible to bring their student to the hub.
• Option 3 -- no transportation change at all.

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"The goal is then we would want to have 474 or less routes so we are on the right side of that math," JCPS Chief Operations Officer Rob Fulk said. 

The district is trying to make sure the bus routes are supported with an equal amount of bus drivers so they can have a clear time between 6 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

Marcus Dobbs works in the transportation department, and told the board he prefers the first option.

While the JCPS school board has a month before they make a final vote on a new transportation plan, JCPS chair Corrie Shull urged the board to think wise about their decision.

"We don't need to move forward with any option that has concerns around racial equity; that undermines our commitment as a district," he said.

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 In the meantime, Pollio said he doesn't want the district to fall into the same position with more routes than bus drivers.

"We will be very clear going into it that this is going to mean delays on the frontend or backend, there's just no other way around it," he said.

JCPS school board is expected to take a vote on transportation in March.

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