LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Craig Greenberg and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Marty Pollio called on Transit Authority of River City (TARC) drivers to help with transportation issues within the district on Monday.
They were joined by Metro Council members and other JCPS officials during the public meeting.
"This is a community issue that we should resolve together, collectively," said Tammy Hawkins, council member of District 1.
The meeting comes after the JCPS board voted to cut magnet schools out of their busing plan with the exception of schools where 75% or more of students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program.
The plan also left parents frustrated while they figure out how to get their children back and forth to school.
Both Hawkins and Councilwoman Paula McCraney, District 7, want JCPS to reverse the decision.
There were a lack of solutions put forward during the meeting, but council members and Greenberg said they were willing to sit at the table with JCPS to work on solutions to help students get to school on time.
"We convene a meeting this week immediately to start working through the details of how we can offer impacted TARC drivers the opportunity to be JCPS bus drivers and address their transportation challenges," the mayor said.
For now, he plans to have detailed conversations with the community about possible solutions.
However, Pollio looked to the city’s transit system for help.
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“I will say this; we will hire every single TARC driver that is available to us, and we will do that as quickly as we possibly can," he said. "I will say this to any TARC driver that is impacted, you will get a raise if you come to JCPS, so we are ready and able to hire."
Greenberg revealed TARC is having transportation challenges as well with a major cut to their financial budget and a shortage of drivers.
However TARC union president, Lillian Brents, said she and other TARC employees were blindsided by this idea.
"Any discussion in regards to going anywhere has not taken place with the union, TARC or with the mayor," she said.
She said with TARC needing $30 million in funding over the next two years, she isn't sure how this possible solution could solve the JCPS busing challenge.
City leaders said they hope by working together, they can find ways to help students moving forward.
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