JCPS, we need equitable school bus transportation now. Here’s what we suggest.

Last year’s decision by Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) to eliminate transportation services for magnet and traditional school students has had a profound and disproportionate impact on our community, particularly affecting black and low-income families. This policy change has not only disrupted student education, but has also exacerbated existing racial and economic disparities in our school system.

This summer I sat around a table with the mayor, the chairman of the Metro Council and the JCPS and TARC leaders. I watched them put the finishing touches on a deal that would have restored service to at least some children who had been disenfranchised just a few months before. A big press conference followed as many in this community hoped that we were on the way to success, even if only marginally. I, along with several other community leaders, stepped away from the table and believed that the subject matter experts and professionals remaining in the room could get the job done.

We were wrong.

JCPS has failed to keep promises about magnet school bus transportation

The following months were full of confusion, missteps and finger-pointing. The promise of August turned into September, then October, then December, and now we’re sitting here in January with nothing to show for it all. Yes, we have the necessary bus drivers, but no promise has been kept and there is no plan. It must be changed. On January 28th, the JCPS Board of Education agenda states that they will take action on a “Transportation Plan – Return Service.” That’s a good thing, but given the timing and everything associated with this decision, fundamental issues and decisions need to be addressed.

The decision to cut transport has forced many families into untenable situations. Thousands of students chose to change schools or not even apply for the school of their choice due to lack of transportation. Other parents have tried to keep their children in the schools of their choice and have taken on the challenge of transportation themselves – adding cost, stress and strain to family life. After suing JCPS for reducing her son’s bus service, a mother now faces legal consequences for being unable to transport him to school. It was reported by Louisville Public Media. This situation underscores the dire consequences of the district’s actions for families who lack the resources to adapt to sudden policy changes.

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The Louisville Urban League stands in solidarity with these families and calls on the JCPS School Board to take immediate, decisive and comprehensive action to correct this inequitable situation. We propose the following measures:

Restore school bus service, reopen student assignment process

1. Recreate transportation for the spring semester and next school year: Restore bus service to magnet and traditional schools, prioritizing students from low-income households and those living in areas with limited access to alternative transportation. Although only a small number of students may benefit this spring, every little bit counts and will give the transportation department time to create more efficiencies this fall. The more important step is for the superintendent to reopen the assignment process so that students who now need transportation can make their choices based on the new reality. This step is essential to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to attend the schools of their choice. Both steps must be done together to ensure justice.

2. Consider outsourcing transportation services: JCPS should seriously explore partnerships with third-party transportation providers to address logistical challenges and improve efficiency. Outsourcing could alleviate the current shortage of drivers and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, ensuring a more reliable service for students. I openly admit that with unionized drivers and a nationwide shortage, using a third party company may not be an easy fix or solve the problem completely. But the district’s desire to “go it alone” has proven insufficient at best. We owe it to our children to seek the best possible opportunities.

3. Implement a fair task schedule: Develop and enforce a student assignment plan that guarantees access to magnet and traditional schools regardless of a student’s transportation options. This plan should include reserving a percentage of seats in each magnet and traditional school for students who live in the area of ​​that building. This would not solve the problem for all students, but would ensure equal access to significantly more students than are currently available.

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Education is a fundamental right and transport and economic barriers should not impede access to it. The current situation not only undermines the academic success of our students, but also perpetuates systemic inequities that our society has long struggled to overcome.

We urge the superintendent and the JCPS school board to act quickly to implement these recommendations, demonstrating a commitment to equity and the well-being of all students. Our children deserve nothing less than full access to the educational opportunities that will shape their future and, by extension, the future of our society.

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Lyndon Pryor is president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League.

This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: Cuts to school bus transportation have hurt JCPS students | Opinion