LLEXINGTON, Ky. — Fayette County Public Schools is working to ease parent concerns after alarming school bus issues rocked Louisville.
Beverly Fisher is a Liberty bus garage supervisor and parent securing buses for around 70 students daily.
The Fishers have been with FCPS for eight years. She said the start of the year comes with challenges and concerns for parents, including scheduling, locating pickup and drop-off spots and getting first-time students equipped with their bus number and route.
“The smaller kids, of course, it’s a different kind of setting for them if they are used to being at home with their mom or the dad or guardian. So just being away from them is an adjustment,” Fisher explained.
FCPS transportation interim director Kim Webb says reducing concerns as efficiently as possible has been their goal.
It’s why bus staff and others prepared for the 2023-2024 school year before last year ended. Now, they are tracking new custom routes that meet Kentucky specifications for school buses.
“Our routing department has got people that I’ve been with for 20 years plus with them — our dispatchers 20 years plus on handling situations with the parents,” Webb said.
Webb and dozens of bus staff are aiming for less than an hour’s wait for drop-offs, but are hoping the number of bus drivers will rise to sort out any future issues.
“Some of our routes this year will be longer until we get enough drivers in,” Webb said. “Some of our special needs programs have expanded this year, which means more buses on the road for us.”
Fisher says that she and others are dedicated to getting kids home at a safe and reasonable time, as family time can be essential and is a priority for herself.
“I have four children, so it’s just important that I get to spend time with them and my husband, so this is why I chose this job and I wanted to move up because I wanted to stay here and end up retiring here,” Fisher explained.
Fayette County bus systems says parents can help their staff by having a transportation vest for preschoolers — identifiable pickup persons or a photo ID and bus tag.