LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lawmakers in Frankfort could have a possible solution in fixing problems with busing issues at Jefferson County Public Schools.
The bill was read during a House committee meeting on Tuesday.
House Bill 447 hopes to get students home from school quicker and will allow school employees to drive students home in nine-passenger vans as opposed to the traditional school bus.
One of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Emily Calloway from Louisville, claims it would reduce long wait times for students and the number of buses on the road.
Calloway said the vans would be clearly marked with established route safety standards.
“Now, the buses are required to have the arm that extends. To avoid overly costly and cumbersome additions, we wanted to make sure that children were safe without having to add that,” she explained. “What we said is that you’ve got to come up with a route that doesn’t have a child crossing the street. We’re talking about the nine-passenger van pulling into a driveway, pulling up to a house so that is avoided.”
The bill passed unanimously with 18 yes votes to zero no votes and is now on its way to the House floor.
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