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Groveport Madison Board approves payment-in-lieu offers after transportation review
Summary
After a presentation on state rules and district data, the board approved offering payment in lieu of transportation to eligible families for 2024–25; transportation staff said the district has offered 69 payments so far and currently pays $1,167.72 per accepted student.
Groveport Madison Local Board of Education members on the evening approved a resolution to offer payment in lieu of transportation (PIL) to families of resident students attending nonpublic and charter schools after the district’s transportation department described the state process and local numbers.
The board’s vote followed a presentation from Teresa Ritchie, transportation department staff, and Heather Free of the Ohio Department of Education explaining how state law and practical scheduling considerations affect whether the district provides yellow-bus service or offers a cash payment instead.
The presentation laid out the legal and operational test used to determine impracticality under Ohio law (ORC 3327.16), including: last-year attendance at the school, current enrollments, bell schedules and routing compatibility, the number of students involved, time and distance to serve them, equipment and personnel costs, and whether providing the route would disrupt existing service. Ritchie said the district now finalizes decisions within 14 days of becoming aware of an enrolling student, and that the superintendent’s administrative determination is formalized at the next board meeting.
Why it matters: district staff said serving small numbers of students by dedicated routes is expensive and operationally difficult. Ritchie gave specific figures to illustrate that cost: “We currently pay a . . . $1,167.72 to students that are receiving payment in lieu,” she told the board. She added that, to move the students now receiving PIL back onto buses, the district would need roughly 24 additional drivers and 24 additional buses.
Board members asked about outreach to parents and neighboring districts, how payments are accepted, and whether payments expire. Ritchie said 69 parents have been offered PIL for 2024–25 and 47 have signed to accept the payments so far; she said zero parents have formally declined and requested mediation. She also said payments may be prorated for midyear enrollments and that, unless a parent signs the acceptance form, the district cannot issue payment. Heather Free said the Ohio Department of Education is tracking the issue statewide and that the biennial state budget may change aspects of the PIL process in coming months.
Board action: The board moved to approve the list of families to be offered payment in lieu of transportation for the 2024–25 school year. The motion passed by roll call: Mr. Christian — Aye; Ms. Doudelberger — Aye; Mr. Bauer — Aye; Ms. Grama — Aye; Ms. Walsh — Aye.
What wasn’t decided: The board did not change its overall transportation policy at the meeting nor commit to hiring drivers or buying buses; staff said any change to provide bus service instead of payments would require hiring staff and buying equipment and would be evaluated against the same impracticality factors.
Next steps: Staff will continue to notify parents in writing and report accepted payments to the Department of Education. Ritchie asked parents and schools to supply calendars and enrollment information earlier so the district can plan routes before the school year starts.
