‘Extra 20 cents...wasn’t worth the hassle.’ KY school bus drivers settle, not walk out

Letcher County Schools bus drivers, who had threatened a walkout over being paid one of the lowest salaries in Kentucky among their peers, have reached a settlement with the school district.

The drivers took a 3% percent raise, shifting the rate from $12.93 per hour for a starting bus driver to $13.31. In June, they told the Herald-Leader they would walk out and not work, starting the first day of school Aug. 14, if they did not get a 5 % raise.

But on Thursday, Superintendent Denise Yonts and the bus drivers told the Herald-Leader they reached a settlement.

“We have come together as a group and collectively agreed to accept the 3-percent pay increase,” Driver Joshua Brown, representing Letcher County school bus drivers, said in a statement Thursday.

“After careful consideration, we have decided that the extra .20 cents for the 5 % (raise) wasn’t worth the hassle and we appreciate our superintendent and board members to even consider the 3%.”

Letcher County Schools, a district in southeastern Kentucky more than 2 1/2 hours from Lexington, has 2,492 students and 450 employees, Yonts said.

“ The issue has been resolved,” she said Thursday of the conflict with the bus drivers. “The board gave a 3% raise to all employees. A starting bus driver now makes $13.31 an hour; that’s a raise of 38 cents. Of course, as you go up the salary scale it will be more based on your years of experience and pay.”

The board will continue to work to improve the salary scale for bus drivers, Yonts added. She said in June the district has 34 full-time drivers.

“We respect the work our employees do and will continue to work toward increasing salaries for everyone. We want what’s best for our students, families and staff,” she said.

The Herald-Leader sent emails this summer to superintendents across Kentucky, asking what their districts paid starting bus drivers per hour. About 81 superintendents of the 171 districts in Kentucky had responded by Thursday, most confirming that their school bus drivers were paid more than $12.93 or even the $13.31 per hour that Letcher County starting bus drivers now make.

For example, Damian Johnson, Superintendent of Jenkins Independent Schools, another district in Letcher County, said starting drivers receive $14.77 per hour to remain competitive with neighboring districts and attract drivers.

Starting drivers with a 5-hour bus route in nearby Knott County receive $15.69 per hour, said Superintendent Greg Conn. Floyd County starting drivers make $17.33 an hour. In Perry County, that rate is $18.51.

The starting salary for school bus drivers in Fayette County is $22.36, per hour, said district spokesperson Miranda Scully.

“This particular rate was approved as a competitive salary to ensure we can attract and retain an adequate number of bus drivers to provide reliable transportation, “she said.

Jefferson County Public Schools spokesperson Mark Hebert said the starting salary for school bus drivers in that district is $30.11 per hour, “a competitive salary in the Louisville market. “

This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM.