LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nearly two weeks after the start of school for Kentucky’s largest school district, Jefferson County Public Schools gave an update on the district’s new transportation plan at a school board meeting on Aug. 20.

School district officials say the school year is off to a great start, with 98% of all bus riders being dropped off before 6:30 p.m. on the first day of school and all of them dropped off by 7 p.m. They reported there are currently 526 bus routes and 580 drivers.

The school district cut transportation for the 2024-25 school year for approximately 14,000 students at magnet and traditional schools. They say they hope to reinstate transportation services to some students, but that is contingent on having enough drivers.

In a new partnership program with the Transit Authority of River City, 19 TARC drivers have become certified to drive for JCPS and 39 are in the process of becoming certified.

“If we have 60 that is the recommendation we would be bringing back to you. If it’s less than 60, we would be dipping into our schools and our on time service and pick up service after school, which I don’t think we want to do. I am confident we will get to that number, but a recommendation will come once we get there,” said JCPS Superintendnts Marty Pollio.

JCPS also discussed the transportation cuts that have resulted in longer pick up and drop off lines for families who drive their children to school. They said improvements have been made and they are assessing areas where traffic patterns need adjustment. They say they are working with the Louisville Metro Police Department to find solutions.

The district is still offering stipends for families who lost bus transportation this year. The stipend will either be $5 or $10 per day, depending on if the student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches. Signups for the stipends begin next week. Payments will begin the week of Sept. 9.

Pollio said he thinks the district will have a good idea of how many TARC drivers will have proper certifications to drive a school bus by the next board meeting on Sept. 3. That’s when he may recommend the Jefferson County Board of Education reinstate transportation to students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches at Butler, Manual and Male high schools, and all students at Johnson Traditional Middle School, Coleridge-Taylor Elementary School and Young Elementary School.