DAYTON, Ohio — From drops in attendance and safety concerns to the legal right to ride the bus — Dayton Public Schools Board of Education members addressed current transportation issues across the district. 

“The district currently purchases thousands of bus passes at an inflated price each month to provide students in grades nine through 12 with the ability to get to and from school. With very little notice, RTA has changed bus routes and times,” said DPS Board of Education President Chrisondra Goodwine.

A large shortage of school bus drivers locally and across the state is a growing problem. 

Approximately 3,000 Dalton Public Schools students rely on public transportation as their only way to get to school. 

Board members said students are not at fault for any recent safety issues on Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority buses.

Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli said school resource officers are on the buses and at stops to help with accountability. 

“We have limited buses, we have limited drivers, and we do the best that we can to get everybody to school, but we just can’t do it all,” said Lolli. “We need legislative relief for one thing and we also need some support and help with the city.”

The Greater Dayton RTA did not respond with a comment at the time of publication.

RTA held a series of public input sessions in February as it considered route changes.