LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two Kentucky state senators are proposing a bill to help out with transportation issues affecting Jefferson County Public Schools.
Senate Bill 92 is proposed by Senator David Yates, D-Louisville, and Senator Robin Webb, D-Carter County. Yates is calling it a common sense bill.
The bill would allow non-school bus vehicles for flexible student transportation – meaning the district could use vans as an alternative to get students home.
Yates believes it will save the district money and will make bus routes more efficient.
The Kentucky Department of Education will still require training if someone wants to transport children.
The move would not just affect Jefferson County.
"All these other legislators are having similar experienced throughout Kentucky, where they do not have the bus drivers they need and even then, a lot of the routes are inefficient, Yates said. “There’s so many hardworking teachers, bus drivers and they’re doing the best they can. Without any type of assistance from us, we’re putting them in an even worse spot.”
Yates thinks it would cut down on unnecessary drop-offs from bus drivers.
“This is not an urban issue. It’s not a rural issue. This is a Kentucky transportation issue,” he explained. “It’s a simple fix and right now, its been assigned transportation I believe we should get a move on. I just want all the moms and dads out there to know the legislature is working on help for a solution.”
The bill would expand the law so that noncommercial driver’s license (CDL) vehicles can be driven to and from school.
Shelby County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sally Sugg said her district has been able to keep a stable group of bus drivers, but sees the benefit to using vans as an alternative.
"We use some other forms of transportation, some minibuses for field trips and things, but this would give some added options to districts, especially some of the rural districts that have some very narrow roads that a bus has difficulty finding its way down and back.” she said.
While Shelby County schools has not experienced a driver shortage, the same can't be said for JCPS. In December, district leaders said there were 574 full-time bus drivers, which is 76 fewer than in 2022.
A JCPS district spokesperson told WHAS11 News in a statement, "Senate Bill 92 is an option that could be useful in assisting JCPS and other districts as we all continue to deal with a nationwide shortage of bus drivers."
Senate Bill 92 would keep the drivers that do have CDL licenses on routes where buses are needed most.
Yates said the Kentucky Department of Education would lay out the guidelines for drivers' training. He said all drivers would still be required to go through full training, federal background checks, and bi-annual traffic checks.
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