Cincinnati Public Schools to put middle-schoolers on city transit buses with general public
To save $2.9 million each year, Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) will put 1,260 of its middle-school students on the city’s metro service buses, sparking alarm from many parents, the local NBC…
To save $2.9 million each year, Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) will put 1,260 of its middle-school students on the city’s metro service buses, sparking alarm from many parents, the local NBC affiliate reports.
“They feel it would be a lack of safety for their students because they’re on the bus with the entire general public,” said Kimberly Huckleby, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Ladies of Leadership. “You just never know who’s going to be on the bus, and there’s just no supervision.”
The district board also moved schools’ 2025-26 start times to 9 a.m. to accommodate the bus change for students in 7th and 8th grades.
“Metro has a very long history of working with CPS to transport students – more than 50 years,” said Brandy Jones, chief communications and marketing officer for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. “We’ve been transporting the 7th– through 12th-graders for a number of years as well.”
All buses and transit centers have security cameras, and the city employs police and resource ambassadors to be available for assisting students at major bus stops, Jones noted.
More than 2,700 7th- and 8th-grade students used Metro buses in the 2024-25 school year – contributing to over 10,500 students in public transportation, a CPS spokesperson said.
The district serves approximately 35,000 students across 66 schools.
As previously reported by The Lion, a projected decrease in Ohio’s public-school funding has spurred district officials into addressing a more than $50 million budget deficit by June 30.
‘Horrified’ at growing transportation costs
Other states are questioning the cost of school bus services as expenses continue to rise annually.
For example, Fall River Public Schools in Massachusetts has projected more than $15.8 million in transportation costs for 11,000 students – compared to just $8 million in 2021.
“I am horrified at the burgeoning cost of transportation,” said district committee member Thomas Khoury at a recent city meeting.
Multiple busing vendors and the growth of “mega-schools” in formerly walkable neighborhoods have contributed to the increase, said the district’s COO Kenneth Pacheco.
Although the district plans to use electric buses to help with increased demand, several journalists and school officials have expressed concerns with safety and maintenance – including battery failure, power outages and steering problems.
“The rapid push for electrification of public transport solutions often glosses over these vital engineering challenges,” wrote Anthony Watts, longtime meteorologist and founder of the award-winning “Watts Up With That” website. “It is imperative to ask if the technological zeal is overshadowing practical implementation strategies that ensure safety and reliability.”
