Welcome to Youngstown City School's "Let's Clear the Air" page, where we address common questions and misconceptions about our district. We understand that inquiries and assumptions naturally arise when it comes to policies and decisions. Our goal is to provide clear, accurate, and helpful information to our school community and beyond.

In this section, which will be updated, you'll find answers to frequent questions that affect our scholars, families, and staff. Being informed empowers you as a member of our community to be knowledgeable and advocate for education. Thank you for taking the time to engage with us, and for your continued support in our shared mission to provide a high-quality education for all scholars.

The district stopped high school transportation because they lost funding 

YCSD suspended high school transportation for the 2024-2025 school year primarily due to a national bus driver shortage. Although the district faced a $2 million withholding penalty from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for noncompliance related to the bus driver shortage, the decision to suspend high school yellow bus services was mainly driven by the lack of available drivers, not just financial concerns.

State law requires the district to transport its own students as well as hundreds of students from non-public and charter schools. In fact, 50% of the students transported by the district are not YCSD scholars. The limited number of drivers and the high demand for routes made it nearly impossible to maintain the existing transportation schedule. As a result, walk zones were increased, and the Board of Education decided to discontinue high school busing.

The district continues to explore options for reinstating high school transportation in the future, which is a complex and nuanced process. Families are encouraged to contact their legislators and advocate for changes to busing laws that would create a more equitable approach to K-12 transportation.

The district doesn’t pay its drivers well

Youngstown City Schools offers our drivers a competitive $24 per hour, benefits, and paid driver training. With this union position, the district pays the highest bus driver’s wage compared to surrounding school districts and the national median salary of $21.74.

YCSD does not have funding to operate

Schools are financed in a number of ways, including federal, state, and local resources. The district is not in a state of fiscal emergency. For more information on title funds, and access to State Auditor Reports, visit the following links: Treasurer’s Office and School Improvement/Federal Programs.

The district avoids commenting on news stories 

When a school district appears that it is not commenting on a news stories, there could be a variety of reasons, with most stemming from legal and privacy obligations. The district has a responsibility to our scholars, staff, and community, and will have to limit our ability to always provide public commentary on certain issues, protecting the interests for all parties involved.

In addition to the law, the district abides by its board policies and internal communications processes to determine the best methods of communications.

The district controls what the media reports 

 When the district can provide information, statements and respond to inquiries, it cannot control how the media interprets or presents that information. Additionally, there could be legal and privacy considerations that prevent a school district from commenting on certain issues, particularly those involving students or staff privacy., ongoing investigations, or pending legal matters. These constraints can further the district’s ability to influence media narratives.

 The district values our relationships with the news media to be a transparent source of information to our community.