Public school districts across Tuscarawas and Stark Counties are set to better ensure the protection of their students on school buses, thanks to a significant financial boost from the Ohio School Bus Safety Grant Program. State Representative Jodi Salvo (R-Bolivar) announced that grants totaling over $220,000 have been awarded to local districts to help them install advanced safety equipment in their bus fleets. The initiative, part of the state's operating budget, aims to provide $10 million in support to school districts statewide.
"I’m grateful to see these dollars coming back to our local school districts to support student safety," said Salvo in a statement obtained by the Ohio House of Representatives. The plan is designed to quickly deliver tangible benefits, allowing each school district to apply the funds to freely upgrade their buses in the way that best achieves their specific safety goals.
The funding dispersal includes notable amounts such as $38,634 for Claymont City School District and Sandy Valley Local School District, topping the list with $86,809. Other districts receiving funds include Garaway Local School District at $7,609, Indian Valley Local School District with $12,725, and New Philadelphia City School District securing $23,323, to name a few.
Funded safety enhancements range from additions to newly purchased buses to upgrades for buses already in service. The goal is to ensure that every school bus on the road operates with the most up-to-date safety technology available. Every district that applied for the grant with eligible equipment was awarded funding.
