LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools transports more than 65,000 students a day, according to a district spokesperson.
"Bus drivers are vital to what we do and this is the first time we have ever had to cancel bus routes. Typically, we delay them. We could not absorb all of this today," JCPS spokeswoman Carolyn Callahan said.
The district cancelled over a hundred bus routes after 143 drivers called out Monday. It tops the 92 drivers who called out the previous Friday.
Jamie Wade stopped driving for JCPS last year. She kept her five kids home to support her former coworkers during the call out. "They're tired, they're stressed, they feel like they're not being heard. And they aren't," she said.
Driver frustrations focus on new routes and student behavior. JCPS told WHAS11 News Friday the district was developing a digital reporting system for student behavior referrals. It would include a tracker to let drivers know if any disciplinary actions were taken against a rider.
Although the district shared it's working with the drivers' union on how to improve conditions, they haven't shared anything specific on how or if routes will change.
Roughly 75% of drivers showed up for work on Friday, according to Callahan.
"They are doing what's best for kids, and we so appreciate them," she said. "Bus drivers have been the heroes of this entire thing. They have been working extremely hard all school years as they do every school year."
A transportation meltdown in August cancelled school for several days. Monday was originally scheduled off, but was put back on the calendar to make up for lost time.
Love of the community
In a student letter shared with WHAS11 Digital Producer CJ Daniels, a young bus rider wrote to their driver. It read: "...On the behalf of me, my mom, and the parents/guardians of all the kids you pick up, thank you so much for staying with us."
"Even [without] being there anymore," Wade said. "It's frustrating for me because my kids have gotten bullied on buses and there's nothing being done about the kids that are bullying my kids."
With school out for Election Day, parents will have to wait until Wednesday to see what a return to normal for JCPS Transportation looks like.
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