By 1808Delaware
Four Delaware County and northern Franklin County school districts are among 371 recipients of Ohio’s new School Bus Safety Grants, part of a $10 million statewide effort announced January 22 by Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin.
The competitive grants are designed to help districts upgrade existing buses or add advanced safety features to new buses, following recommendations from the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group convened by the Governor in 2023.
Local awards include:
- Delaware City School District — $44,643
- Worthington City School District — $33,441
- Westerville City School District — $33,495
- Olentangy Local School District — $5,000
The program recognizes that while school buses are already considered the safest form of student transportation, additional improvements can further reduce risk and modernize safety equipment across fleets.
Grant funds may be used for safety upgrades such as enhanced camera systems, improved lighting and signaling, additional visibility features, and other equipment intended to prevent accidents and improve student protection during transport.
In announcing the awards, Governor DeWine emphasized the state’s commitment to student safety beyond the classroom.
“Whether students are in the classroom or on the school bus, we owe it to parents and families to do everything we can to keep them safe,” DeWine said. “We’re raising the bar for student safety on Ohio’s buses.”
The grant program stems directly from a January 2024 report issued by the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group, which identified practical opportunities for districts to enhance bus safety through targeted investments supported by state funding.
For area families, the awards translate into tangible safety upgrades that will be visible on local routes in the months ahead.
