Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen Dackin today announced the award of $10 million in Ohio School Bus Safety Grants to 371 schools, districts, and county boards of developmental disabilities statewide.
The grants are designed to ensure safer travel for Ohio students through upgrades to existing buses and the addition of advanced safety features on new buses.
“Whether students are in the classroom or on the school bus, we owe it to parents and families to do everything we can to keep them safe,” said Governor DeWine. “We’re raising the bar for student safety on Ohio’s buses, and these grant awards demonstrate our dedication to making school transportation safer.”
The grant program was developed following recommendations from the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group, convened by Governor DeWine to review all aspects of student transportation. The group’s January 2024 report confirmed that while school buses remain the safest mode of transportation for students, opportunities exist to make them even safer. Among its 17 recommendations were strategies for improving bus safety features, driver training, and emergency response.
“Student safety is our top priority, and Ohio is investing in critical safety improvements to equip school buses with proven technology that keeps children safe,” said Director Dackin.
All schools and districts that applied for funding for eligible safety features received an award. The Ohio School Bus Safety Grant Program allows schools and districts flexibility to tailor safety enhancements to their unique needs, including repair, replacement, or addition of authorized safety features on active buses or new bus purchases.
Locally, several districts in Logan and Champaign counties received funding to help improve student safety on their buses:
Logan County
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Bellefontaine City School District – $29,418
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Indian Lake Local School District – $16,612
Champaign County
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Graham Local School District – $11,735
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Mechanicsburg Exempted Village School District – $19,455
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Triad Local School District – $12,774
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Urbana City School District – $23,484
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West Liberty-Salem Local School District – $12,039
These grants provide local districts with resources to enhance bus safety, ensuring that students can travel to and from school in a secure environment.
