Kentucky Congressman Morgan McGarvey Asks U.S. Department Of Education to Provide Resources to Address Bus Driver Shortages in Kentucky

Below is a press release from Kentucky Congressman Morgan McGarvey.

LOUISVILLE, KY (August 22, 2023) – Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) sent a letter asking the U.S. Department of Education to provide any available grants, funding, or other resources to address bus driver shortages following the bus delays that impacted JCPS earlier this month. 

“Every parent deserves to send their kids to school with peace of mind that they’re being taken care of and will come home safely,” said Rep. McGarvey. “The extreme bus delays at the start of this school year meant many young students, including our own, didn’t get home from school until late in the evening — and some kids didn’t get picked up at all. This isn’t normally a federal issue, but I’m asking the Department of Education to provide our community with additional resources to help alleviate the shortage of bus drivers and provide extra relief for the drivers who are working hard to take our kids to and from school. While Congress doesn’t — and shouldn’t — control Jefferson County bus routes, I’m exploring every possible solution to make sure this never happens again.”

The full text of the letter is below: 

Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary Schott:

Public schools are the core of our communities. As a tenet we all hold dear, public education is the foundation upon which we ensure that each successive generation is equipped to flourish and thrive with dignity. A strong education system forges strong minds which forge a strong country. When our schools succeed, we all succeed.

One of the pillars of the American education system is the idea that all students, regardless of race, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic, are entitled to a free and comprehensive education that promotes their growth, intellect, and personhood. Part of that mission is transportation to and from school to ensure that all students have ready access to success. As a proud product of Jefferson County Public Schools (“JCPS”) and fierce supporter of public education, I understand how critical it is to uphold this bedrock commitment. 

I applaud all those who serve our public schools and help to enlighten the minds of the next generation. It is up to all of us to ensure that those public servants have the tools, resources, and support they need to carry this mission through. As you know, a shortage of bus drivers and fiscal constraints have plagued schools across the country. Jefferson County Public Schools has lost a third of its bus drivers since before the COVID-19 pandemic.  This bus driver shortage, in addition to other salient factors, led to a bus fiasco on the first day of school at JCPS with long delays and logistical potholes. 

Like many JCPS parents, I sent my son on a bus for his first day at a new school, and he didn’t get home until after dinner. Some kids weren’t picked up at all or didn’t get home until nearly ten o’clock at night, leading to worried parents and hungry kids.  Every parent deserves to send their kids to school with peace of mind that they’re being taken care of and will come home safely. Let me be clear: our school bus drivers and our JCPS faculty and staff went above and beyond in ensuring that these kids got home safely despite the challenges that arose. Nevertheless, we cannot allow this to happen again.

As the dust settles and students begin to return to the classroom, I will continue to monitor ways we can best uplift and support our school system. In the meantime, I will continue to support efforts on Capitol Hill to ensure that our schools receive the robust federal supports they deserve and the resources they need. The bus driver shortage not only afflicts JCPS, but also school districts across the country.

Thus, I write to ask that the Department of Education identify and provide Jefferson County Public Schools with any existing grants, tools, or other resources the district can use to address the school bus driver shortage. As this shortage affects districts all over the country, I also write to ask what actions the Department is taking to address the shortage and support affected state and local education agencies.

I look forward to your timely response along with the other parents of JCPS. I appreciate all that you and your office do to uphold the dignity and development of our youth. Their success is our success. 

Sincerely,

Morgan McGarvey

Member of Congress