LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A JCPS bus driver is preparing to pick up and drop off her last group of students this week.
It comes on the same day the school district had to cancel more than 100 bus routes after 143 drivers called-out before Monday morning.
Monique Parker has been a JCPS bus driver for nearly ten years.
On Monday morning, she did was she's been doing for the last decade. She went on her bus routes.
When one of her students handed her a letter.
"It was so unexpected, a young lady," Parker said. "I didn’t even know her name. I just greet all of my students with 'good morning' or 'good morning, baby.'”
Five sentences written in pencil on a college-ruled piece of notebook paper.
The letter read:
"Dear bus driver, I just want to thank you for not giving up on us. Thank you for not quitting and joining the bus protest. You are a huge help to all the kids you pick up. If you weren't, I'm sure a lot of them wouldn't even ride. On the behalf of me, my mom, and the parents/guardians of all the kids you pick up, thank you for much for staying."
“The first sentence Is what really got me. And I couldn’t hide my tears from all of my students,” Parker said.
It's been an unprecedented year for JCPS transportation. Starting in August, when student weren't getting home until 9 p.m. Monday, 25% of bus drivers called out because of working conditions, including poor student discipline and long routes.
“Driving the bus this past year has been extremely taxing on the mind, the body, the spirit,” Parker said.
JCPS Spokesperson Carolyn Callahan addressed the transportation issues Monday afternoon.
"We know that routes are long bus drivers know that we are continuing to work on reducing those routes and making changes in the transportation system. These are not things that can be done overnight," Callahan said.
While Parker has not participated in the call-outs, she said she supports her fellow bus drivers.
"I know it’s hard. It takes a really special person to do this job," she said.
Parker has decided to leave her position as a bus driver, and transition into a different role with JCPS as school security. A role, she said, gives her more time to connect with the students.
"I'm not giving up on anybody. We're not giving up on anybody – the bus drivers, we're not giving up on anybody. All of JCPS – we're not giving up on anybody," Parker said.
In an update Monday night, JCPS said initial reports show an additional 13-thousand students were absent today... compared to absences last Monday.
The district says all students were dropped off by 7:10 p.m.
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