LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools is expected to make a decision on the proposed new school start times.

Last month, Superintendent Marty Pollio announced the start time changes in efforts to cut down on bus driver shortages and get students to school on time.

What You Need To Know

  • Jefferson County Public Schools is expected to make a decision on the proposed new school start times

  • 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.

  • A Louisville mother of three shares her concerns 

The new proposal would have nine start times. 

A Louisville mother to three kids shares a plea to JCPS broad members to consider how these start times will impact working families.

Vy Truong doesn’t support the new school start times.

“Especially with me working full time at the pharmacy like this and working 9-to-5, 9-to-3, every day,” Truong said. She said it will cause more chaos for her. Not only does she work, but so does her husband.

Right now all three of her sons start school at 9 a.m.

“I’m not sure how can we arrange our schedule to be able to accommodate you know the JCPS scheduled to drop off and pick them up seeing that we both have to be at work by 9 o’clock,” Truong said.

The new proposed start time puts her older two sons at a 7:40 a.m. start time and her youngest at 9:40 a.m., affecting their entire day of activities.

“In the afternoon, we’re not going to have any family time anymore,” Truong said.

Truong said this proposal is putting her in a tough situation being a pharmacist and a mother.

“I want to take care of my patient. I don’t want to quit my job and choose to just stay at home, dropping off, picking up my kids and take care of my family,” Truong said. “I still have my patient to take care of and I don’t want to leave this job. I want to help my community. And I think the schedule change will affect a lot of people.”

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

“We’ve been doing it for years. Just stick with it. Everyone, get used to it. Everything working out, let’s do it, let’s just stay the same. Don’t change,” Truong said.

The Jefferson County Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday. They’re expected to discuss, and potentially vote on the proposed times.

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