Columbus City Schools Weighs Ending High School Yellow Buses for COTA Routes
A district workgroup outlines three transit options that could save $4 million to $7 million as the school board prepares for committee reviews and a December vote.
Columbus City Schools is considering eliminating yellow-bus service for high school students in grades nine through 12 and shifting them to Central Ohio Transit Authority city buses to help curb an operating deficit.
Previously, Pique Media reported the multi-year consolidation plan to address a $50 million deficit when Columbus City Schools unveiled it.
Under models presented to the school board by the High School Transportation Workgroup, the proposals could save the district around $4 million to $7 million. District financial modeling projects net annual savings between $3.8 million and $6.5 million across three potential scenarios.
Columbus City Schools yellow buses parked outside Marion-Franklin High School in Columbus.
Credit: WOSU Public Media Image source
Three Workgroup Scenarios
The district's transportation workgroup outlined three options for transporting students in grades nine through 12:
- Option 1: The district would eliminate both yellow school buses and district-provided COTA passes, leaving families responsible for arranging their own transportation for their high schoolers. Workgroup estimates project roughly $6.5 million in annual savings under this model.
- Option 2: The district would eliminate yellow buses and provide high school students with COTA passes. This scenario is projected to yield approximately $4.3 million in net savings.
- Option 3: The district would eliminate yellow buses and provide students with COTA passes, unless a student has more than one transfer. Workgroup estimates project about $3.8 million in annual savings under this plan.
District official Michael Brown said high school students with special education needs, job training programs, or lottery schools would still be transported by yellow buses. Shuttles for Career-Technical Education programs and transportation for students with Individualized Education Programs would also be protected on dedicated yellow buses under all three options.
Transit Ridership and Bus Stop Safety
According to district data presented by the transportation work group, roughly 3,526 high school students currently use yellow buses for school transportation and around 5,188 high school students use COTA buses. In addition, 42% of CCS high school students are already using COTA as a mode of transportation. The district also provides yellow-bus transportation for 740 charter and non-public students.
Workgroup route assessments found that COTA routes provide direct transit service for 73% of high school students, require one transfer for 24%, and leave 3% outside existing transit lines.
During a board meeting, board member Tina Pierce asked the workgroup to provide more details about how students would be kept safe while waiting at bus stops and traveling to and from school at the next meeting. She asked administrators to share standard operating procedures and coordinate with community resources to protect students.
Bell Schedules, Childcare, and Legal Rules
Alongside transit adjustments, the district evaluated elementary bell-time changes proposed for the 2027–28 school year. Under that concept, elementary school hours would shift to 9:20 a.m. to 3:50 p.m., while middle and high school schedules would remain unchanged from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Moving elementary hours later would affect morning childcare and work schedules for local families. The shift also implicates teacher assignment rules governed by Article 211 of the collective bargaining agreement between the district and the Columbus Education Association. Shifting non-district students involves charter and non-public transportation obligations established under the Ohio Revised Code.
School Board Agenda and Timeline
The Columbus Board of Education meets Wednesday, Nov. 4, to review transit passes for roughly 12,500 students alongside student transportation impracticality determinations.
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the board is scheduled to hold a special joint committee session combining the Academic & Facility Alignment and Equitable & Transparent Resource Management committees. According to the meeting notice, the session is scheduled to address budget reductions, committee operations, community engagement, and legislative updates.
The workgroup is expected to present its final proposal to the school board in December, when board members will vote on the plan.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Columbus City Schools Unveils Multi-Year Consolidation Plan to Address $50 Million Deficit
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported the multi-year consolidation plan to address a $50 million deficit when Columbus City Schools unveiled it.
Read supporting passage
Columbus City Schools Unveils Multi-Year Consolidation Plan to Address $50 Million Deficit
Supporting evidence (9)
Under models presented to the school board by the High School Transportation Workgroup, the proposals could save the district around $4 million to $7 million.
Read supporting passage
The workgroup said the proposals could save the district around $4 million to $7 million.
Option 1: The district would eliminate both yellow school buses and district-provided COTA passes, leaving families responsible for arranging their own transportation for their high schoolers.
Read supporting passage
Option one would eliminate both yellow school buses and district-provided COTA passes, leaving families responsible for arranging their own transportation for their high schoolers.
Option 2: The district would eliminate yellow buses and provide high school students with COTA passes.
Read supporting passage
Option two would eliminate yellow buses and provide high school students with COTA passes.
Option 3: The district would eliminate yellow buses and provide students with COTA passes, unless a student has more than one transfer.
Read supporting passage
Option three would also eliminate yellow buses and provide students with COTA passes, unless a student has more than one transfer.
District official Michael Brown said high school students with special education needs, job training programs, or lottery schools would still be transported by yellow buses.
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Regardless of any decision that could potentially made, Brown said high school students with special education needs, job training programs, or lottery schools would still be transported by yellow buses.
According to district data presented by the transportation work group, roughly 3,526 high school students currently use yellow buses for school transportation and around 5,188 high school students use COTA buses.
Read supporting passage
According to CCS data presented by the transportation work group, roughly 3,526 high school students currently use yellow buses for school transportation and around 5,188 high school students use COTA buses.
In addition, 42% of CCS high school students are already using COTA as a mode of transportation.
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The data shows currently 42% of CCS high school students are already using COTA as a mode of transportation.
During a board meeting, board member Tina Pierce asked the workgroup to provide more details about how students would be kept safe while waiting at bus stops and traveling to and from school at the next meeting.
Read supporting passage
During Tuesday's meeting, board member Tina Pierce asked the workgroup to provide more details about how students would be kept safe while waiting at bus stops and traveling to and from school at the next meeting.
The workgroup is expected to present its final proposal to the school board in December, when board members will vote on the plan.
https://www.ccsoh.us/board-of-education/public-meeting-notices
Supporting evidence (2)
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the board is scheduled to hold a special joint committee session combining the Academic & Facility Alignment and Equitable & Transparent Resource Management committees.
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In accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.16, a special meeting of the full Board of Education will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 270 East State St., Columbus, OH 43215, in the Assembly Room beginning at 5:30 pm-8: 30pm.The board will move into a joint committee session that includes the Academic & Facility Alignment and Equitable & Transparent Resource Management committees.
According to the meeting notice, the session is scheduled to address budget reductions, committee operations, community engagement, and legislative updates.
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The purpose of the meeting is to address a range of topics, including but not limited to: • Committee Operations • Budget Reductions • Community Engagement • Legislative Update