[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6749598,"mediaKeyId","5075496-accf828a81d26d55ed50ea035939594f","parentId",5075496,"title","Jefferson County board hears detailed options for 2026–27 school start times, staff urges routing-software rollout first","audioSeconds",552,"startMs",3398000,"endMs",3950000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5075496-accf828a81d26d55ed50ea035939594f&start=3398&end=3950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5075496-accf828a81d26d55ed50ea035939594f/thumbnail_3398000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6749598/Kentucky/Jefferson-County-board-hears-detailed-options-for-202627-school-start-times-staff-urges-routing-software-rollout-first","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749598-b008529404e2f6c5c7aa6bb883274722/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148788&Signature=AemV17zFFZ~0StaGL2Hm0PR2sPPmtinq78Op3QqMDJM7w3qpyKEav-5f9nfPzlkT07uDlPJusSo7O4aR2hdviiQP0v7jwPcnCefvewZPP0jJXr4U9hFgPHw~Uy1IgX8iYJdPCNYYPN7k0P52oW0PtPUCJRYe-GUj-lpBjR2M1f1VV5vRMLZfGc~gE0TxTJkOT3f9sMseksqMZ73U8mdlcTxLBfc7-ED9AWH8l0KPAPWwHGQclCQfJzrg7X-NLpqOPDJmoBGKly7On1q55qB6~AaJhK8kDmTxbVmTJUtce9QbAlS6ciqSfNxaIjImdT6jrbZ4rXkWAoyx9kKK5LsJlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jefferson School Board","date","2025-06-11T11:40:43Z","article","The Jefferson County Board of Education on June 10 received a detailed briefing on transportation and possible changes to school start times for the 2026–27 school year, with operations staff recommending the district first complete rollout and testing of new routing software before making major schedule changes.

Dr. Tyler Sheeran, executive administrator of operations, told the board there is “no perfect start time model” and outlined two broad options: retain the current three-tier configuration or shift high schools (and Ramsey Middle School) to a later tier. Sheeran said implementing the latter would require substantially more routes and drivers and would push many routes into afternoon rush-hour traffic.

The recommendation from staff was to complete full implementation of the new routing software during 2026–27, use the 2026–27 school year to validate and optimize routes and only consider large start-time changes for the 2027–28 school year or later. “If we change start times, we would have to reroute the whole district again. That is typically an 18 to 24 month process,” Sheeran said.

Why it matters: moving high schools to a later start is supported by a body of education research linking later start times to improved adolescent sleep and attendance. But the district’s transportation modeling shows the trade-offs are significant: later high-school dismissal would create a much larger final tier of routes near evening traffic and require many more drivers to avoid late arrivals and extended school supervision obligations.

Key numbers and operational details provided by staff:
- Current active drivers: about 620. Earlier benchmark years reported roughly 740 drivers.
- Daily absenteeism rate used in modeling: about 11.3 percent; models account for replacement staffing at that rate.
- Total routes (approximate): districtwide routes in the modeling were on the order of 1,700; staff said retaining three tiers keeps per-tier route counts lower.
- Scenario modeling: shifting high schools to the third tier would raise that tier’s routes from about 557 to an estimated 685; that third tier could need roughly 760 drivers to cover routes when accounting for typical absenteeism.
- Current clear-time targets: this year’s clear time was about 5:40 a.m. for completing runs; a shifted-high-school scenario was estimated to produce a final-clear time near 6:45 p.m. (staff described that as an approximation pending full rerouting).

Staff noted depot locations and campus-sharing constraints (Ramsey and Farmer elementary share a campus) that influence routing. Marcus Daub, executive administrator of transportation, and Bradford Daniels, director of routing, described the district’s recent improvements in driver recruitment and retention and said the new routing software will add optimization tools now missing from the legacy system.

Board members asked detailed questions about the math behind the driver counts, whether the software could be used to run alternative scenarios this year, and what pilots might be feasible. Several board members urged staff to present additional models that use other “levers” (clustering, targeted pilots, or different hybrid configurations) rather than only the two headline options. Sheeran and staff said they can produce additional scenarios but cautioned that producing accurate, board-ready scenarios requires back-and-forth clarification and time.

The board voted to receive the update and requested staff provide more data on bus-driver staffing and transportation metrics at the next meeting. Mr. Craig moved to receive the update; Miss Strange seconded and the motion carried.

Quotes are from staff and board members during the June 10 presentation and question-and-answer session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","JCBE Board Meeting – June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board received an update on potential changes to school start times tied to transportation routing. Staff recommended bringing a new routing system fully online in 2026–27 and delaying major start-time changes until routes are optimized; board members asked for additional data on driver counts, absenteeism and pilot scenarios.","taxTitle","Jefferson County, School Boards, Kentucky","taxId",14467,"location","Kentucky","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6749588,"Board authorizes counsel to proceed on closed-session litigation strategy; receives transportation update and approves consent items",3678,2222000,5900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5075496-accf828a81d26d55ed50ea035939594f&start=2222&end=5900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5075496-accf828a81d26d55ed50ea035939594f/thumbnail_2222000.jpg","/articles/6749588/Kentucky/Board-authorizes-counsel-to-proceed-on-closed-session-litigation-strategy-receives-transportation-update-and-approves-consent-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749588-c3b8f47fb73125268f509f38e6a7fc93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148788&Signature=CS5LXR2TGDQcip2RrcWwwzdw3tcIiBWnzxVDCv0ujOEHksyk4xWIg9N7PokMlJ3G~tP4Xjg2VrwZxNbDeRB4eO1PsewidRwO0jn4AXSaHS89XEkz~8M5SVi-5Y8B6uEXGu-wcopMnNXLheiBwgs0eEQt1rWE4KRy~ykTBeRQqHPqu33KUTuiNKUy-qDwu90n7Xy-RnP-ZBk3XfMF1B7y4Ru27jRQDCjQ6AygrqBCAOfmhoNyFf7J61YqFdzkj9pbWh-rE1NpgB1ZEJSgAf2AJ3br7Z~oLdh1wKiT51XI-YmZGGWcnrssA3-WEVMwZ568UTCtEVLF2rcVW7AIhdjDdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jefferson County Board of Education on June 10 took several formal, short votes after returning from a closed session on pending litigation.

The board first met in executive session to discuss pending litigation under KRS 61.810(1)(c). After the closed session, the board returned to open meeting and voted on whether to authorize board counsel to proceed with the legal resolution strategy recommended in closed session. Mr. Everett moved the motion; Miss Strange seconded. The chair called for the vote and announced, “Ayes have it.” The board’s post-session statement said no action was taken while in closed session.

Later in the meeting the board voted to receive an update on start times and transportation planning for the 2026–27 school year. Mr. Craig moved to receive that update; Miss Strange seconded and the motion carried.

The board also approved routine matters on the consent calendar. The chair asked for a motion to approve the consent calendar; Mr. Bass moved, Miss Duncan seconded, and the chair announced the motion carried with one item pulled for separate discussion. During the consent-item discussion board members asked for corrections to handbook and policy language about which office receives certain reports (chief of staff vs. chief of operations), clarified that school police handle cell-phone searches when criminal or unlawful content is suspected, and confirmed that bus referrals are uploaded into Infinite Campus and are handled by principals or designees working with climate-and-culture staff.

No roll-call tallies were read into the record for these motions; board minutes record each motion along with the named mover and seconder and that the motions passed.","At the June 10 meeting the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to authorize board counsel to proceed with legal strategy discussed in closed session, voted to receive the transportation/start-times update, and approved the consent calendar (with one item pulled).",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6749593,"Parent tells Jefferson County board denials of ABA scheduling are harming special-needs students",111,6889000,7000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5075496-accf828a81d26d55ed50ea035939594f&start=6889&end=7000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5075496-accf828a81d26d55ed50ea035939594f/thumbnail_6889000.jpg","/articles/6749593/Kentucky/Parent-tells-Jefferson-County-board-denials-of-ABA-scheduling-are-harming-special-needs-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749593-a70abee39c7bc5b1c01557a3faacb37e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148788&Signature=jxNS5gP4df2QjWQGJvDOpwNjOQYF3HFB8re~C2GWkymq1bjpFiJzcVxJiUck0S4S4wWNXjEx9Qa3seXj359DBxNUOYykV3xEhBeIPy~3IcVyc0wNmtXQqA~WkytufxmAosiCISWsqQ3ywII6phQIaV5OCdqLDH5IdBk-GLr4mnvQ8ONrffx-U8~o7N3HEinslicI2xj41pp6hfpAHAH17KnANHN68261pPO4uL6tdnjbKI1Pa9xzJJVEfLi8uAv8oW6AmhoUsgwA~CBRya0nO5wB5auPafGe7J5R-dRl9Fi58G6ibV3tRHj3R5lNMzP9X77nrKUkuLw-717QS84xlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Jefferson County parent told the school board on June 10 that scheduled accommodations allowing students to receive applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy during the school day are being denied inconsistently and that the practice is harming students who need the services.

Nicole Fleetwood Short, the mother of a child with special needs, addressed the board during public comment and said admission and release committee (ARC) decisions were “arbitrary” and varied by school and committee membership. Short said many children who require ABA to develop basic daily-living and communication skills are being denied scheduled access to that therapy during school hours, and that the denials effectively block access to services that are critical to long-term independence.

“Some may never learn to use the bathroom independently, communicate their needs, or perform basic daily living skills,” Short said. “These are not luxuries. These are survival skills.”

Short told the board she and other parents have been warned by local therapists that the district “likes to bully parents into thinking they have no rights,” and she cited the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as legal frameworks that require schools to provide a free appropriate public education and reasonable accommodations.

What the board heard: Short asked the board to audit ARC decisions, to examine whether parents’ expertise about their children is being respected in meetings, and to ensure the district honors schedule accommodations when outside therapies are clinically necessary and available only during school hours.

What staff said on the record: During subsequent consent-item discussion, district leaders confirmed that when schools encounter potential criminal items or other matters that require police involvement, the district refers those matters to school police; district staff also said they would correct several handbook and policy references and provide clarifications about how referrals and searches are handled. Short’s public comment asked the board to apply that same scrutiny to ARC decisions.

Next steps requested by the speaker: an audit of ARC outcomes, review of scheduling practices for students who require ABA therapy, and direct engagement with families to assess consistency across schools.

Quote in context: Short cited federal statutes and said district leaders must “look closely at what’s happening in your ARC committees.”

Speakers listed are from the public comment period; no formal action on ARC policy was taken at the June 10 meeting.","A parent told the board that Jefferson County schools are denying schedule accommodations that allow students to receive ABA therapy during the school day, calling the denials arbitrary and inconsistent across admission and release committees. She urged the board to audit ARC decisions and ensure compliance with IDEA, Section 504 and the ADA.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Jefferson County board hears detailed options for 2026–27 school start times, staff urges routing-software rollout first

Board authorizes counsel to proceed on closed-session litigation strategy; receives transportation update and approves consent items

Parent tells Jefferson County board denials of ABA scheduling are harming special-needs students