LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Jefferson County Board of Education has approved a measure that will change school start times for the upcoming school year.
The vote on the Smart Start measure was 6-1 with board member Linda Duncan being the only "no" vote.
Smart Start would create eight start times from 7:40 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. for students K through 12 and an additional start time of 10:40 a.m. for early childhood students. Dismissals would range from 2:20 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. for K through 12 and early childhood students would depart school at 5:20 p.m.
Under the new proposal, 19 school start times don't change.
JCPS hopes the new system will better serve students.
They say hundreds of students in the district are missing crucial instruction time because of late buses which Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio called “unfair” to students, families, teachers and bus drivers.
The change, he says, ensures student learning time is no longer a victim to the driver shortage.
Before the vote, some JCPS principals spoke in support of the plan because they are weary of seeing many of their students miss instruction time because buses are running late due to an ongoing shortage of drivers.
"By the time that bus comes our kids are in third period, Dr, Shamika Johnson said, principal of Newberg Middle School. "We've started lunch, and they've already missed half of the day."
Also during the meeting, one JCPS teacher addressed his concern that the later times fall within areas that are historically underserved.
Chief Equity Officer John Marshall said there are no inequities embedded in the proposal.
Shively Mayor Maria Johnson and other board members pointed to possible traffic congestion.
Pollio said the district will monitor that, and other metrics, once the plan takes effect in August. He said he will deliver a report in September.
"The beauty of a start time plan is that we can make adjustments," Pollio said.
Board Member Diane Porter raised concerns about elementary kids standing on bus stops alone in the dark. Pollio revealed he is currently working with Mayor Greenberg and interim chief Gwinn-Villaroel on safety precautions.
However, this sticking point was a factor in Duncan's sole "no" vote.
"Safety dictates the older kids come on the early schedule instead of the younger kids," she said.
Some board members also addressed student misbehavior on buses - one factor in the driver shortage.
The district says it is working to address this.
Since the measure passed, the changes are expected to take effect in August.
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