LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools held a virtual forum on Monday for parents to discuss plans for new school start times.

Almost a week ago, JCPS announced the proposed start times. They said the goal is to cut down on bus delays and get students to school on time. But some parents aren’t so sure.

What You Need To Know

  • Jefferson County Public Schools unveiled nine different start times for schools

  • A Louisville mother of three shares her concerns 

  • The proposal would cut bus routes from 732 to 600 and eliminate drivers double or tripling back around

  • K-12 students would start at times ranging from 7:40 to 10:40 a.m.

“Right now you guys start at 9:05 [a.m.] right? Yeah. Okay. Under the new plan, it would be 9:40,” said Sarah Brian to her two older children.

She explained the new start times and how it could affect their schedules. Both her children attend Greathouse Shryock Elementary School. And her youngest attends day care.

“With the elementary school for our particular group, it’s being pushed back instead of going earlier,” Brian said. “I’m not really sure how I can manage getting to work and getting them to school, and everybody be on time.”

The mother of three said with a late start of 9:40 am for her school, they may not be able to use the bus system and may have to enroll in before- and after-school care called CEP.

“I am worried about the costs associated with [CEP], worried that there’s going to be a higher demand for CEP and that it will fill too quickly and then… what do you do?” Brian said.

If the Louisville attorney takes that route, her children’s hours at school could get longer.

“If they do see CEP, then I’m concerned about their length of their school day because if I’m having to drop them off at 8:30 (a.m.) and they probably wouldn’t get home till around six. I mean, that’s a big day for them that they don’t have now,” Brian said. 

Another parent who’s less affected by the changes says it’s a complex issue and community support could help.

“The past two years have shown us that businesses are perfectly capable of being flexible and pivoting in ways that they had that we previously thought they couldn’t,” said Ann Pipes, a mother who has a junior in high school. “So I would love to see the employers in this community be part of the solution and spend these next few months really working with their employees and trying to find good creative solutions for their employees.”

Parents also voiced concerns about their students’ ability to focus to the JCPS leadership team.

“I am also concerned with them going later and the effects that has just on their ability to stay focused,” Brian said.

The new proposal would have nine start times. The earliest start is still 7:40 a.m., with four schools starting at 10:40 a.m.

The school day would end anywhere between 2:30 p.m. to as late as 5:20 p.m. for a few schools. 

Superintendent Marty Pollio said there will be another information session next Tuesday during the board meeting. He’s hoping the board will vote on the proposed start times in March.

Related Stories