Kentucky’s largest school district has canceled the second and third day of classes after a disastrous overhaul of its transportation system left some children on buses until 10pm.
Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio called it a “transportation disaster” in a video posted on social media Thursday morning.
Mr Polio apologized to the district’s 96,000 students along with their families, the bus drivers and the school officials who had to stay with students for hours as they waited for buses to arrive on Wednesday.
He called the decision to close schools on Thursday and Friday the most difficult of his career, but said it was necessary.
District officials will spend the four days before Monday reviewing the routes and having drivers practice them, he said.
The district that encompasses Louisville has 65,000 bus riders, according to its website.
The disaster came after major changes to school bus routes and school start times this year meant to alleviate a bus driver shortage, the Courier Journal reported.