Ohio AG sends cease-and-desist letter to Columbus Public Schools for school bus plan – Washington Examiner
The Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has issued a cease-and-desist letter to the Columbus City Schools concerning its recent decision to cease busing certain charter and nonpublic school students. During a recent school board meeting, the district passed a resolution stating that they could not afford to transport these students due to high costs and potential disruptions to existing transportation services. In response to this decision, Yost has threatened legal action if the policy is not reversed, citing Ohio law, which mandates that school districts must provide transportation for nonpublic school students within district boundaries, given they attend schools located no more than 30 minutes away from public schools. A spokesperson for the Columbus Public Schools indicated that they have received the letter and plan to respond appropriately.
Ohio AG sends cease-and-desist letter to Columbus Public Schools for school bus plan
A school bus plan from Columbus Public Schools has triggered a cease-and-desist letter from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
On Tuesday, the Columbus City School Board met and voted on a new resolution saying the district cannot transport some charter and nonpublic school students because the costs are too high and because it would disrupt some of its transportation services. The decision has Yost threatening a lawsuit if it does not end the practice.
A spokesperson from Columbus Public Schools told the Columbus Dispatch the school district received Yost’s letter and would “respond as appropriate.”
Ohio law requires school districts to provide transportation for nonpublic school students who live within district boundaries as long as they attend a school no more than 30 minutes from the public school they would attend if they were enrolled in public school.
“Columbus City Schools has decided not to comply with state law — you don’t get to do that — state law has to be followed,” Yost said.
Still, at the city council meeting, the district said it was “impractical” to provide transportation for the affected students.
The school district said it would pay families for the cost of transportation at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year. The families, in turn, would then be responsible for bringing their students to school via their own vehicles, the city bus service, or rideshare and cab services they would pay upfront.
The move prompted Yost to call the district’s decline in transportation for some charter and nonpublic school students “a strong-arm tactic.”
“The solution of ‘Well, just come back to Columbus City Schools because we’re great’” doesn’t work, Yost said. “The parents have already made the decision that they want to avail themselves of the other options. This kind of strong-arm tactic will not stand.”
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