Board approves resolution declaring transportation impractical for 28 private‑school students

The Westerville City (Regular School District) Board of Education on July 9 approved a resolution declaring transportation impractical for 28 identified private‑school students for the 2025–26 school year, enabling the district to offer payment in lieu of transportation as provided under state law.

Mister Snyder, who presented the item, told the board that Ohio law permits school districts to deem transportation impractical after considering factors such as cost and numbers of students. He noted the board previously passed a similar resolution in December covering 162 students and said the district’s purchasing and logistics department reviewed each request per the requirements of the Ohio Revised Code (section 3327.02).

“The Ohio Department of Education and workforce determines the amount of payment for the payment in lieu of transportation,” Snyder said, and he answered board members’ questions about how the district monitors year‑to‑year changes in requests and the cost implications of providing service.

Board members moved and voted to approve the resolution; roll call votes recorded members present voting in the affirmative. The approved list of 28 students covers 17 different schools, according to the superintendent’s staff presentation. The action allows the district to proceed with payment offers rather than arranging separate bus routes for the listed students.

The board did not change statutory language; the resolution implements the district’s administrative determination that transporting those specific private‑school students is impractical. No additional budgetary figures for the payment in lieu were provided at the meeting; the Ohio Department of Education and workforce sets the payment amounts.