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Portsmouth Council modifies pupil-transportation resolution, delays final vote
Summary
City councilors discussed a resolution urging improved transportation to reduce chronic absenteeism, agreed to strike two grant-writing provisions, keep socioeconomic language and send a revised resolution to the next meeting for finalization.
Portsmouth City Council members agreed to amend a proposed resolution about pupil transportation and move the item to the next meeting for final wording and distribution.
The resolution asks state and federal officials to review pupil-transportation policy and support measures to reduce chronic absenteeism. Council members on March 10 agreed to remove two provisions that would have directed the city manager or city staff to write grants on behalf of the program and to retain language saying access should be available “regardless of socioeconomic status.”
The change follows research presented during the discussion indicating there are currently no known Department of Education transportation grants available for this purpose. One council member reported local chronic-absenteeism rates of roughly 29% to nearly 50% for Portsmouth junior-high and high-school students, and said statewide rates have risen from about 17% to about 27%.
Council members debated adding stronger language about safety — citing late-afternoon activities, weather and other conditions that can affect students’ ability to attend — but concluded any stronger safety claim should be accompanied by citations and supporting research before being finalized.
Speakers noted existing local programs and funding streams, including prior Safe Routes to School projects that installed elevated crosswalks, signage and curb bump-outs near the high school. A councilor also described a local transit option that offers advance-scheduled child pickup for a 50-cent fare.
Council members asked that the resolution’s recipients be narrowed from “everyone in the Ohio General Assembly” to the city’s relevant state legislators and congressional representative to reduce mailing work and postage. They also requested electronic distribution where email addresses are available.
The council directed staff to rework the draft to reflect the agreed edits and to include local education contacts — principals, the superintendent and the district transportation supervisor — and moved the amended resolution to the March 24 meeting for final consideration.
