LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new deal between Louisville Metro and Jefferson County Public Schools could curb a significant shortage in bus drivers for the 2024-25 school year.

What You Need To Know

  • Louisville Metro and Jefferson County Public Schools are working on a deal that will put dozens of TARC drivers on school routes in an effort to curb the district's shortage

  • JCPS may hire as many as 70 TARC drivers as part of the agreement

  • Superintendent Marty Pollio said JCPS employs fewer than 500 drivers, compared to nearly 1,000 a decade ago 

  • The district will pay drivers; however, they'll maintain Louisville Metro employee benefits 

JCPS continues to grapple with a shortage of drivers, but the new agreement could fill some of those gaps with current Transit Authority of River City drivers.

“It took a lot of negotiations, a lot of open-mindedness,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville.

Greenberg said the plan would give up to 70 TARC drivers the opportunity to apply to become a JCPS bus driver. This opportunity presented itself because TARC has plans to reduce route frequency for some city bus routes, which, in turn, may result in shrinking of its fleet of drivers.

Now, because of this emerging agreement, some of these TARC drivers may be able to pivot to driving a school bus at a rate that will be negotiated.

“If TARC moved up its planned route frequency reduction plan, 70 bus drivers would be available to apply (to) these needed JCPS routes,” Greenberg said.

A massive shortage of drivers isn't a new issue for JCPS. 

“A week ago Friday, we had 442 bus drivers," said Superintendent Marty Pollio. "As a reminder, we had nearly 1,000 in about 2014 providing the same services we have now.”

In recent weeks, JCPS announced cuts due to this shortage, which would pose challenges for parents trying to get their children to school. Through the agreement, Pollio said JCPS could restore several magnet school routes that were previously cut.

“Our goal here is to bring back services to our neediest students, our most disadvantaged students, so they continue to have access to our magnet and traditional programs across this district,” Pollio said.

Pollio could not say which or how many routes would be restored if JCPS indeed added 70 TARC drivers. The plan creates a temporary solution for both JCPS and TARC drivers who may be out of a job due to route reductions of their own. 

“We’re going to need the community to keep this conversation going," said Lillian Brents, Local 1447 Union president. "You will continue to see us advocate and fight and push for public transportation. The difference is we will be doing it together." 

Should JCPS add 70 TARC drivers and complete its usual summer hiring blitz, Pollio said he estimates the district will begin the 2024-2025 school year with about 600 daily bus drivers. 

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