More of Jefferson County Public Schools’ (JCPS) bus riding students could get to school on time and bus routes for some other students would be restored under a tentative agreement between JCPS and the Transit Authority of River City (TARC). The deal was hammered out after weeks of negotiation by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio, TARC, bus driver unions and community leaders.
The one year pact, signed by Greenberg and Pollio and to be voted on by TARC’s board of directors, would have as many as 70 TARC bus drivers coming to work for JCPS this fall.
“We’re thankful the Mayor, TARC and community have stepped up to support us,” Pollio said. “This will ensure that more JCPS students can get to and from school on time next school year. It will also give us an opportunity to bring back some transportation services to our neediest students.”
JCPS, like other school districts nationwide, has been struggling with a shortage of bus drivers. In the 2023-24 school year, thousands of students lost millions of minutes of instructional time due to late arriving buses. At the same time, TARC is losing federal funding and planning to reduce or cut service on hundreds of routes, resulting in a large number of layoffs to drivers. TARC employees driving JCPS school buses creates a “win-win” situation according to the Mayor.
“This is a win for our public transportation system and employees, our school district and, most importantly, families whose children go to JCPS,” Greenberg said.
JCPS currently has 542 bus drivers, not enough to cover all bus routes. The district expects to lose more to retirement, moving or other jobs over the summer. Facing the prospect of fewer drivers next school year and students losing even more instructional minutes, the Jefferson County Board of Education made the difficult vote to end bus transportation for all traditional, non-resides Academies of Louisville and magnet school students beginning in August, with the exception of those who attend Central and Western High Schools.
Pollio said adding 70 drivers from TARC is a good start but warned, “This is not a long term solution. This is a short term solution and a band aid for the issue we are having with the shortage of bus drivers.”
The district is continuing to review its bus routes and will prioritize restoration of service to the magnet, traditional and non-resides Academies of Louisville students and schools with the greatest need.
To restore bus service to all students who received it in the 2023-24 school year, JCPS would need in excess of 100 additional bus drivers on top of the 70 coming from TARC, according to Pollio.
The TARC drivers will not be driving JCPS buses for the first couple weeks of the school year as they undergo training with experienced JCPS drivers, according to Pollio.
Pollio and Greenberg announced the agreement flanked by TARC and JCPS buses at TARC headquarters.