LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As Jefferson County Public Schools prepares to start a new year, some families may use the car lanes to drop-off and pick up their students, walk or use alternate methods to get their children to school after the district cut some bus routes in April. 

The Louisville Metro Police Department is prepared as well, as its traffic guards will play a role in helping students cross safely.

“This year, we were tasked with taking our program from responding to nine staggered start times to three," said Amanda Carpenter, Traffic Guard Program supervisor. "We had to revamp our whole program." 

“With us doing that, we have seen some extra coverage that we're going to be able to provide from going from the nine staggered start times to the three." 

From her 25 years at LMPD, she said the first couple of days are busy in the school year, especially the morning hours.

“That's our busiest time because we have those staggered start times of the buses coming in at different times ... as to in the afternoon, your buses are all there," Carpenter said. "They're leaving at one time, and if they are doing a second route, then they're coming in at a later time." 

Since there are new staggered times, Sgt. Michael Torres said to plan ahead. He oversees the Traffic Guard Program. 

“Another thing is for parents that are driving to school as well, they probably want to leave a little bit earlier, give themselves some more time to get to school because there are a lot of changes and everything," Torres said. "That way, they're not rushing, and that way, the kids can all get to school safely." 

He said he can always use more traffic guards on his team.

“I mean, we're short of our authorized strength right now, so we're always trying to hire or take more, of course," Torres said. "But like I said, we feel like we're in a good spot to start the year. We have guards picking up extra school posts when they canceled or working more."

LMPD said it has 76 traffic guards and can use about 30 more on its staff.