JCPS issues response to critical busing investigation. Here's what it says

Jefferson County Public Schools agrees with many findings of a highly critical investigation into what went wrong with busing on this year's first day of school, according to a new response obtained by The Courier Journal.

But the district also takes issue with how the company behind the investigation presented its results publicly, saying its founder made several "erroneous assertions" during a Board of Education meeting in March.

The 19-page response, sent to board members Tuesday, comes nearly three months after Prismatic released the first phase of its audit and agrees with all but one of the company's 16 findings.

However, the response states the district also seeks to clarify "certain incomplete, inaccurate, uninformed or misleading representation of facts made by Prismatic in their comments to the Board."

In messages sent to board members following the March presentation, Superintendent Marty Pollio criticized Prismatic founder Tatia Prieto directly, saying she lacked professionalism, according to emails obtained in an open records request.

Prismatic was hired in October after board members requested an external audit following widespread transportation issues that caused JCPS to cancel classes for the next six to seven days. The district paid Prismatic, based in North Carolina, nearly $220,000 for the audit.

In its report, the firm criticized the district's lack of collaboration and project management while making significant changes that impacted its entire system; accused JCPS of fostering a culture of fear among staff; and questioned how contracts, such as the one with the company that created new bus routes for this year, were awarded.

That routing company, AlphaRoute, issued its own response to Prismatic's findings earlier this month, blaming many of the transportation issues on JCPS.

JCPS, meanwhile, says it's in the process of addressing many issues identified by Prismatic, including creating a project management position that will oversee five committees "to establish a successful start to school for 2024-25."

“All teams will have a work plan, timeline and scope of work," the response states. "While this recommendation deals specifically with transportation, boundaries and Choice Zone, this model will be used for all major projects and implementations moving forward."

Other changes in the works include consolidated start times, the institution of weekly meetings between key departments and the installation of GPS devices and cameras on each bus.

“This will give us live information and video, which we have not had in the past and provide route assistance for drivers,” the response said of the new equipment.

JCPS has disagreed with one finding in the audit, saying it already has a formally designated contract administrator to review contracts as Prismatic recommended.

“We will review this with our Purchasing Department to ensure this is being done consistently, as it was for the contracts reviewed during this audit,” the response states.

Outside the audit's findings, the response took issue with comments Prieto made during a March school board meeting, when she suggested members ask for more information about the driver shortage and how it is being addressed before making the decision to end magnet busing.

Prieto, as an example, said another district was able to hire more drivers with a pay increase. She did not specifically discuss JCPS’ pay rate or whether or not this would work for JCPS.

JCPS drivers' starting wages area already higher than many local competitors.

Following Prieto's presentation, Pollio wrote in an email to board members that it was "hard for me to hide my disgust" over some of the comments the Prismatic founder made.

The district's audit and risk management advisory committee will meet Wednesday afternoon to discuss the response.

Read the document in full below.

Contact Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS issues official response to critical busing investigation