JCPS plans to hire 70 TARC drivers to address bus driver shortage and save jobs

A new partnership could help solve two bus problems at once, at least in the short term. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced a partnership between the district and TARC on Monday. Pending approval from the JCPS and TARC boards, the district would essentially lease 70 TARC drivers to help reinstate some of the routes they recently had to eliminate due to a driver shortage. “I saw an opportunity, I invited leaders from across our city – who have historically not worked together – to the table, and we found a short-term solution to support our TARC drivers, JCPS, families and children of Louisville,” Greenberg said. Pollio said the additional drivers will help the school system restore some of the magnet bus routes for families and children most in need. TARC says this plan would help them avoid laying off drivers due to the end of ARPA funding. “Through this agreement, we are able to achieve our number one goal: not losing our drivers to layoffs,” said TARC Interim Executive Director Ozzy Gibson. The drivers would be paid by JCPS but would remain TARC employees and retain their seniority. Watch the full press conference below and say they have proposed moving up the timeline of their plan to reduce the frequency of some routes in order to make drivers available for the upcoming school year. The TARC board will vote on the deal Friday. The JCPS says they will meet later this month. It is not yet clear which schools this would affect or how much. Despite this, JCPS says the deadline for parents to declare their child’s transportation option for next year is still June 6. will solve this problem for schools that will be included in the new plan. The plan is only expected to last one year.

A new partnership could help solve two bus problems at once, at least in the short term.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced a partnership between the district and TARC on Monday.

Pending approval from the JCPS and TARC boards, the district would essentially lease 70 TARC drivers to help reinstate some of the routes they recently had to eliminate due to a driver shortage.

“I saw an opportunity, I invited leaders from across our city – who have historically not worked together – to the table, and we found a short-term solution to support our TARC drivers, JCPS, families and children of Louisville,” Greenberg said.

Pollio said the additional drivers will help the school system restore some of the magnet bus routes for families and children most in need.

TARC says this plan would help them avoid laying off drivers due to the end of ARPA funding.

“Through this agreement, we are able to achieve our number one goal: not losing our drivers to layoffs,” said TARC Interim Executive Director Ozzy Gibson.

The drivers would be paid by JCPS but would remain TARC employees and retain their seniority.

Watch the full press conference below.

TARC officials say they have proposed moving up the timeline of their plan to reduce the frequency of some routes to make drivers available for the next school year.

The TARC board will vote on the deal Friday. The JCPS says they will meet later this month.

It is not yet clear which schools this would affect or how much.

Despite this, JCPS says the deadline for parents to declare their child’s transportation option for next year is still June 6. It is clear how JCPS will address this issue for schools included in the new plan.

The plan is only expected to last one year.

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