ASHLAND COUNTY — The wheels on three Ashland County school district buses will go round and round even safer than before.
Mapleton, Hillsdale and Ashland City school districts received nearly $40,000 combined from Ohio School Bus Safety Grants.
- Ashland City schools received $7,575
- Hillsdale schools received $23,192
- Mapleton schools received $9,054
They are three of the 371 schools, districts, and county boards of developmental disabilities statewide that received grants.
All schools and districts that applied for funding for eligible safety features received an award, according to a press release from Gov. Mike DeWine’s office.
Ashland City Schools Supt. Steve Paramore said there is not a definitive plan for how the school will use that money, but it is not enough to purchase a new bus.
“The possibilities are out there for a lot of different things. We waited to see if we got it first,” he said.
Ashland City Schools already have cameras on school bus stop signs to monitor motorists who do not obey school bus driving laws.
Paramore said some of the possibilities include training for bus drivers, upgrading communications devices, technology upgrades or equipment.
“We will make a decision based on the biggest needs,” he said.
“We just updated our bus software which helps with our routes, which was crucial because we just reconfigured.”
Hillsdale Supt. Catherine Trevathan said the money will fund illuminated stop signs on buses, lighted cross-view mirrors, or ground wash lights.
“Orrie [Transportation Supervisor Ora Flickinger] will meet with the drivers to determine which safety feature they feel is best for our students,” Trevathan said in an email.
Hillsdale has already started adding front-view cameras to all new buses purchased for the district and updated all inside surveillance cameras, according to Trevathan.
Mapleton will use the money for similar features.
“In our proposal, we requested funding to install external bus cameras, fully illuminated ‘School Bus’ signs, and ground-wash lighting on five of our buses,” Mapleton Supt. Scott Smith said.
“Our total request was $29,884.77, and we were awarded $9,054.00. We will prioritize the most critical safety upgrades and then determine what additional funding may be available to complete the remaining work,” Smith said.
The grant program was developed following 2024 recommendations from the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group, which DeWine convened to review all aspects of student transportation, according to the press release.
The group’s report confirmed that school buses remain the safest mode of transportation for students, but they could be safer.
Among its 17 recommendations were strategies for improving bus safety features, driver training, and emergency response, according to the press release.
“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,” Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin said in the release.
Rep. Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) said in a separate press release: “With more than $96,817 awarded to districts in Ashland and Medina counties — including Ashland City, Hillsdale, Mapleton, Brunswick City, and Buckeye Local — this funding will help our local schools add critical safety features and protect children on every route.”
“Keeping our students safe is always a top priority, and I applaud the state’s commitment to supporting our schools with these resources,” she said.