Dayton Public Schools Resume RTA Bus Passes Amid Legal Battle

Dayton Public Schools (DPS) has announced the reinstatement of Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) bus passes for high school students, following a temporary restraining order issued by a Franklin County judge.

This development comes after a contentious legal dispute over a state law that had previously prohibited the district from purchasing these passes.

In July, an amendment to the state budget effectively barred DPS from providing RTA bus passes to its students, a move that district officials argued was both "unreasonable" and "discriminatory."

The district contended that the legislation was narrowly tailored to impact Montgomery County alone, thereby disproportionately affecting their students.

Superintendent Dr. David Lawrence expressed the district's position, stating, "Our community does not agree with the Ohio Legislature’s decision to halt our use of RTA busing."

He emphasized the importance of partnering with the community to support and defend the rights of students.

Following the court's decision to grant a temporary restraining order against the enforcement of the new law, DPS has resumed the distribution of previously purchased RTA bus passes.

Dr. Lawrence noted that charter and parochial schools would also receive passes, provided they adhere to the same requirements as DPS students, such as signing an RTA Code of Conduct and wearing a visible student ID badge on the bus.

The Greater Dayton RTA responded to the court's ruling, stating that while they will comply with the decision and sell bus passes to DPS upon request, they maintain that public transit is not the most effective solution for meeting the daily transportation needs of students.

They highlighted concerns about routing, frequency, and timing of public bus routes not being conducive to the unique needs of students and the numerous schools across their service area.

As the legal proceedings continue, the DPS Board of Education is expected to pass a resolution outlining the expectations for students receiving the passes.

This situation underscores the ongoing challenges and debates surrounding student transportation in Dayton, as stakeholders seek to balance safety, accessibility, and resource allocation.