By Elise Ramos / The Jambar
The Youngstown City School District eliminated busing for high school students, a move expected to impact student attendance.
The decision was made by the Youngstown School Board on June 25, 2024, amid a severe shortage of bus drivers. According to WKBN, a $2 million fine was imposed by the Ohio Department of Education on the district for failing to get students to school on time.
YCSD’s decision to eliminate 26 total bus routes for high schoolers came as the district chose to focus on transportation for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Parents of YCSD students have expressed a range of concerns and frustrations regarding the cancellation. Megan Skaleris, a parent whose son attends Chaney High School, said the bus changes have directly impacted her life.
“As a full-time employee, working 37-40 hours a week, I’ve had to make many adjustments,” Skaleris said. “These adjustments have caused me to run late, leave work during shifts, losing time and wages — ultimately losing time with both of my children by having to make up hours being their sole provider.”
The district has encouraged students to use the Western Reserve Transit Authority buses, which are free for all riders. However, this change may still pose challenges for some families.
Without reliable transportation, YCSD students may struggle to get to school — on time or at all — leading to higher absence rates. Skaleris said her family has felt negative effects from the change.
“There’s days we are late and there’s days [my son] has to wake up an hour early to sit there an extra hour before school even starts,” Skaleris said.
Some students may have to walk longer distances or through Youngstown neighborhoods to reach school. Skaleris said her child would also have a long trek to school.
“For a multitude of reasons, if my son had to walk to school, he would have to travel three miles with no sidewalks, on a four-lane road,” Skaleris said.
WRTAonline and theRTA show that WRTA has experienced service delays, detours and missed trips on various routes because of mechanical issues and operational challenges.
With the elimination of busing, the responsibility of transporting students falls on the parents. Those who work full-time jobs or have limited resources are unable to provide consistent transportation.
Skaleris said it can lead to additional stress and logistical challenges for families.
“Between lost wages and the cost of gas, my family has lost roughly $550 coming into the household a month, which is a major hit when you don’t receive or qualify for any financial aid with your income,” Skaleris said.
There are significant safety concerns associated with using city buses. Additionally, public transportation can expose students to various dangers, including traffic accidents and crime.
According to WYTV, city officials, police and the WRTA have observed an increase in conflicts and inappropriate behavior since the transition. In the same article, Dean Harris, executive director of the WRTA, stated he’s aware of the issues and is working on a solution.
“There’s been problems with some students smoking in the facility — Some off-site confrontations,” Harris stated.
WFMJ reported on an incident where a WRTA employee was attacked following a fight involving students.
In another case, Youngstown Police investigated a brawl at a WRTA bus station that involved multiple YCSD students. The altercation resulted in an employee being assaulted while attempting to break up the fight.
Youngstown Councilwoman Anita Davis has advocated for enhanced safety measures, such as deploying school resource officers on WRTA buses. Harris has also bolstered security and requested additional support from the school district.
Currently, the YCSD is collaborating with the WRTA to keep families informed and help students adjust to the new transportation system.
Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor mentioned that the district is closely monitoring attendance and will address any significant declines on the YCSD’s website.
The district is currently looking for long-term solutions to the transportation issues. These transportation challenges could also impact Youngstown State University — as many YSU students rely on public transportation to commute to campus.
