DPS board members call RTA’s attempt to prevent students on busses ‘unacceptable’, ‘disappointing’

DAYTON — Members of the Dayton Public Schools Board and district officials gathered Monday afternoon to address an issue that they said is impacting their district’s ability to get students to school.

As News Center 7 has previously reported, Greater Dayton RTA leaders spoke out stating that public transportation is “not the right environment” for students.

“There’s enough that are disrespectful, cause trouble, want to be on social media, want to make a name for themselves,” Ruzinsky, RTA CEO said.

Police reports by Dayton Police Department show since mid-august, there have been more then 350 calls for police help, 74 arrests, dozens of citations, and 18 fights at the hub. According to police, the biggest problems are assaults, fights, disturbing the peace, and juvenile problems.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ohio Department of Education finds DPS in ‘non-compliance’ over busing issues

Ruzinsky said from RTA’s standpoint they are no longer set up to transport high school students and almost all of the estimated 2,500 students that ride have to transfer buses at the Downtown Dayton hub.

Monday afternoon Board President Chrisondra Goodwine said this move by RTA to not allow students on their busses, “directly impacts the ability of students to receive a free and equitable public education.”

“RTA’s attempts to find ways to prevent students from being able to use their transportation is unacceptable,” she said.

Goodwine said the district currently purchases thousands of bus passes at an inflated price each month to provide transportation to high school students.

She added the district recognizes that having an influx of students using public transportation can contribute to “a large number of incidents” at RTA transit hubs during the week.

To help mitigate this, she said the district has offered security and school resources officers at the RTA hubs Monday through Friday. This will also help make sure DPS students are safe Goodwine added.

>> RELATED: ‘It’s just not the right environment;’ Dayton RTA does not want high schoolers on buses

The majority of disturbances cited by RTA do not involve DPS students, Goodwine said multiple times.

“It’s truly disappointing for the entire city of Dayton and I just want to continue to add here that it is imperative that we see this as a dangerous issue,” she said.

Board member Joseph Lacey said the move by RTA is a “violation of civil rights.”

“It’s about access, if your community has public transportation then it’s a civil right that public transportation should be for everyone, that includes Dayton Public School students,” Lacey said.

Member Jocelyn Spencer Rhynard added DPS has to transport thousands of children that do not go to their schools. Not allowing DPS to use RTA busses would put a “burden” on parents she added.

>> RELATED: ‘We ride the bus, the kids ride their bus;’ concerns raised over high school students at the RTA Hub

Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli said that at a meeting with RTA along with DPS’ Chief of Safety and Security Richard Wright, Associate Superintendent Shelia Burton and Board Vice President Will Smith, RTA “indicated that they wanted children, the students off of the bus,” but couldn’t do so as it was “against the law.”

As for what’s next, Lolli said, “we are trying to not use RTA next year, but we don’t have any solutions at this point in time.”

David Lawrence, business manager for this district, said they are still working on a preliminary plan for next year which would include seeing if they could find additional busses if needed in the case RTA is not used.

“We are committed to making sure that our students have equitable access to school. If that means that our RTA needs to be bussing them, we need to work out a plan together to do that,” Lolli said.

News Center 7 has reached out to RTA for a response but has yet to hear back.

We will follow this developing story and update as new information becomes available.

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