At the Tuesday, June 25th, 2024, Board of Education meeting, a motion was carried to discontinue district-provided transportation for all high schools (9-12) and any charter and nonpublic high schools for which Youngstown City School District (YCSD) provides transportation. The exception will be for students with transportation as part of their Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).
The district is not the only school in Ohio that has alternative high school transportation. Akron Public Schools and Cincinnati Public Schools are examples of districts whose 9-12 students utilize city busing. This process is part of the state minimum transportation model. Students in grades K-8 will receive transportation if they are in more than a two-mile walk-zone, the maximum permitted by state law.
This decision was made in light of a bus driver shortage. The district also faces a $2 million withholding penalty for noncompliance by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The noncompliance stems from the bus driver shortages that the district, like other public schools in our region and nationwide, has been facing. The post-pandemic amplified these shortages, and we have been making continuous efforts for years to overcome them. The district affirms that the discontinuation of high school transportation is not solely because of the loss of some funding. It is mainly based on the bus driver shortage.
“This is news that we did not want to deliver,” said YCSD Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor. “The administration and board of education have been conversing about the most efficient course of action. With careful consideration, the decision was made to stop transportation for high school students for the foreseeable future and offer the WRTA as an option, which is a free mode of transit for all riders. The district is working closely with the WRTA to ensure families are kept informed throughout this transition. YCSD also wants to emphasize that no driver has lost employment because of the changes.”
There are WRTA stops in very close proximity to our high schools. More information about WRTA stops can be found by:
Download the free MyStop Mobile App from the Apple and Google Play Store. The app provides real-time tracking of every Fixed Route bus in the system. You can see where your bus is at any time along the route, as well as when it will get to your bus stop.
https://www.wrtaonline.com/rider-info/maps-and-schedules/
“YCSD is legally responsible for transporting all eligible students to the district, community, or chartered nonpublic schools where they are enrolled. With 14 buildings in the district and 36 transporting vehicles in total, it has its challenges,” Batchelor said. “The district sincerely appreciates all of our families and extended families in other charter and nonpublic schools. We thank you for your cooperation and continued support.”
The district will offer ongoing information in the coming weeks. YCSD is additionally preparing to solicit proposals from third-party providers to provide special transportation and other assistance. The request for proposals will be available at ycsd.org.