LOUISVILLE, Ky. — School districts across the commonwealth are struggling to hire enough bus drivers, and that includes the state’s largest district, Jefferson County Public Schools. To help find bus drivers, JCPS is holding a bus driver blitz this weekend.

What You Need To Know

  • Like many school districts across the state, Jefferson County Public Schools is facing a bus driver shortage

  • JCPS is holding a bus driver hiring blitz to address the problem

  • Bus drivers for the school district make an average of $55,000 a year

  • The hiring event will have interviews, Department of Transportation physicals, and more

Just a few years ago, JCPS had more than 800 bus drivers transporting 65,000 students to and from school every day. Currently, they are still transporting the same number of students, but with only 575 drivers.

JCPS spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said most students are currently off the bus by 7 p.m.

“We have about 40 to 50 drivers who call out every day. So, we’re already starting at the deficit. We are doing our best improving those times to get students home this school year. We are still working towards that goal of getting everyone home by 6:30,” said Callahan. 

It’s important to remember that some schools do not let out until after 4:00 p.m. and early childhood education lasts until 5:20 p.m. 

JCPS’s bus driver hiring blitz is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn on Crittenden Drive.

Currently JCPS bus drivers make an average of $55,000 a year and can make more than $38 dollars an hour.

Attendees are asked to bring two forms of ID, a copy of their high school diploma or GED, their social security card, and be at least 21 years old. JCPS will provide training and cover commercial driving license fees. The hiring event will have interviews, Department of Transportation physicals, and more.

“We want it to be as easy for people as possible when they come in on Saturday,” said Callahan. 

Other ideas for transporting students have been presented in Frankfort in this legislative session.

Senate Bill 92, a bill aimed at improving student transportation, has been given to the Senate transportation committee chair for consideration. It would allow districts to use vehicles other than buses to take kids to and from school. State law currently only allows busses to transport students.

“It’s an option that JCPS could utilize and other districts as well. We have some buses that we are not at capacity. Maybe we’re picking up nine kids on that route,” explained Callahan. 

But the real problem is finding drivers and JCPS could be seeing some transportation changes next year.

“Right now we do not see a huge influx of drivers coming in, again this is a nationwide problem and so at the next board meeting, there will be a presentation showing them some options for transportation next year,” said Callahan. 

The Jefferson County Public School Board is set to meet next Tuesday. According to the agenda, members will get an update on the bus driver shortage and possible options for transportation for the 2024-2025 school year. The district alerted families last year that transportation changes could be coming.

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