Ohio district to stop busing high school students after 18-year-old killed near transportation hub

Dayton Public Schools (DPS) in Ohio will not provide bus services for high schoolers this year, blaming “several significant barriers” including a law forbidding the district’s students from using public transportation on school-issued passes.

“DPS is facing a busing issue as a new state law … blocks its students from transferring bus lines at the Greater Dayton RTA’s downtown bus hub,” writes Eileen McClory for the Dayton Daily News.

“The issue became an even greater priority following the April killing of Alfred Hale III, an 18-year-old Dunbar High School student who was shot near the downtown RTA hub on his way to school.”

‘Need for additional buses and drivers’

Superintendent David Lawrence assured families the district is “committed to finding a long-term solution” and working to purchase more buses – estimating the typical wait time at approximately 12 months.

“Several significant barriers have made it impossible to provide yellow bus transportation for high school students at this time, including the need for additional buses and drivers,” he said.

Families should “use the mode of transportation that works best for them to ensure their students can get to and from school each day,” according to Lawrence.

“While this is not the solution we hoped for, the short timeline provided by the state left the district with limited options. We … will continue to work toward implementing a comprehensive transportation plan for all students, PreK-12.”

State Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Butler Twp., had previously told Dayton Daily News he supported the provision distancing high school students from the downtown hub.

“We had a kid killed down there,” he said. “It’s a terrible environment. I would not want my 13-year-old daughter standing down there waiting to transfer buses in that climate.

“You know, you have drug dealing going on down there, you’ve got gangs down there, you’ve got homeless, mental health people down there. It’s not a place for a 13-year-old kid.”

The district’s school board members disputed Plummer’s perspective, arguing lawmakers should instead change state requirements for districts to transport both public and non-public students.

“If our legislators in the Statehouse actually wanted to solve this transportation issue, they would get rid of the mandate that we transport non-public students,” board of education member Jocelyn Rhynard said. “There’s no reason why we should be doing transportation for students who do not attend Dayton public schools.”

Plummer acknowledged the law should be revisited, noting it was established before increased enrollment in charter and private schools.

“It is an antiquated system that needs [to be] changed. But they need to ask themselves why 50% of our kids go to other schools,” he said. “Maybe start there.”