Ohio files emergency motion against Columbus City Schools over busing issue

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — The Ohio Attorney General has filed an emergency motion against Columbus City Schools, asking the state to intervene and grant immediate relief to families affected by the district’s decision to declare some charter and private school students’ transportation impractical.

The emergency motion, filed Wednesday with the Ohio Supreme Court, follows Attorney General Dave Yost’s lawsuit against CCS alleging the district gave improper notice to affected families. The new resolution specifically addresses students whose families have challenged the district’s decision by requesting mediation.

According to Yost, Ohio law requires districts to provide transportation to pupils whose families request mediation after being declared transportation impractical until the issue is resolved. Yost accuses CCS of deliberately choosing not to abide by a legal requirement to transport students, requesting the state require CCS to transport students until things are resolved.

CCS Chief of Communications and Engagement Letrece Griffin said the District will not comment until it has officially been served with the complaint.

Yost’s most recent legal action follows another lawsuit against the district last week, when a family affected by the transportation decisions sued the district for inadequate warning and for not offering a legally required supplementary payment in place of not providing transportation.

Yost said the number of affected students is growing, placing the total at 1,930 students as of Sept. 4. Yost cited specific examples, such as one child whose mother has requested mediation multiple times and has instead had to rely on paying a friend when they are available to help transport her child to school. Yost said this family’s mediation has yet to be scheduled.

Yost also said the transportation issue has harmed private schools. He pointed to LINC Academy, a charter school in Columbus, whose enrollment dropped from 34 to 27 students for this school year after the transportation impracticality determinations. Yost said charter schools must have at least 25 students to remain open.

Yost said Wednesday’s action will convey the urgency of the matter to the Ohio Supreme Court, where Ohio’s lawsuit against CCS awaits action.

View Yost’s emergency request in it’s entirety below.

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