Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has initiated legal action against Columbus City Schools (CCS), escalating the dispute over student transportation. The lawsuit, filed with the state Supreme Court, seeks to compel CCS to provide bus services for charter and non-public school students, a contentious issue that has left parents scrambling and state law in question.
The heart of the Yost Ccs Transportation Lawsuit lies in CCS’s declaration that it is “impractical” to bus approximately 1,380 students. This decision, which the district attributes to bus driver shortages and increased enrollment in private schools via taxpayer-funded vouchers, has led to significant disruption for families. Yost, however, argues that Ohio law mandates transportation even when districts deem it impractical, especially while appeals against transportation decisions are underway.
In a recent emergency motion, Yost emphasized the immediate impact on families, stating, “Parents are being forced to quit their jobs, rearrange their lives and scramble for transportation, while the school board fails to meet its legal duties.” He urged the court to take swift action, highlighting the urgency of the situation. This motion is a direct response to CCS’s decision to deem students ineligible for transportation if their routes exceed 30 minutes, a policy enacted amidst ongoing challenges with transportation capacity.
The legal challenge follows earlier actions where around 149 students formally contested their ineligibility, appealing to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for route evaluations. Despite these appeals and ongoing discussions, the Columbus City Schools Board of Education has maintained its stance, citing the impracticality of transporting over 1,800 students. Instead, CCS has offered financial compensation to affected parents, with amounts ranging from $583 to $1,167 per student, as set by the Department of Education.
The yost ccs transportation lawsuit underscores a significant conflict between state law requirements and the practical challenges faced by school districts in providing transportation. The Ohio Supreme Court’s decision will have far-reaching implications for both Columbus City Schools and the broader landscape of student transportation obligations across the state.
