Solon board approves driver certifications, warns families of fall route adjustments during construction

The Solon City School District Board of Education on Aug. 4 approved certification of district bus drivers and the bus routes and stops for the 2025–26 school year, and administrators warned families to expect adjusted pickup times because of local construction. The board approved a resolution certifying 48 drivers as meeting the Ohio Department of Education requirements under the rules cited in the agenda (OAC 3301-83-06B5), with staff saying a 49th driver is expected to be certified by the next board meeting. "We have 44 bus routes this year. We're starting with 48 drivers," a district official said. Superintendent's office staff told the board that families will receive route details by email early next week and that the district has stopped publishing full routes in the newspaper for safety reasons. Officials warned that construction on Somme Center Road — and concrete pours in school parking lots — will require temporary alternate drop-off plans: parent drop-off will be consolidated on the south side of the affected school, and buses will use the north side. Transportation staff said routes and pickup times are being adjusted to account for traffic and construction so students can arrive on time; administrators asked parents to monitor district emails for detailed directions. The board approved the routes and driver certifications on motions during the transportation agenda items. District leaders said their ongoing recruitment and retention practices have helped maintain a pool of drivers but cautioned that driver shortages can re-emerge as the year progresses.