COLUMBUS, Ohio - State education officials have awarded a total of $1,080,211 in school bus safety grants to districts across Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties. The local awards are part of a $10 million statewide initiative to help 371 schools and districts buy and install advanced safety equipment.

The funding supports upgrades for existing buses and the addition of safety features on new vehicles to further protect students.

The grant program was created based on suggestions from the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group. The group found that while buses are already the safest mode of transportation, new technology can offer additional protection. Every school and district in the three-county area that applied for eligible safety features received an award.

Mahoning Valley grant breakdown

The following lists show the specific grant amounts and county totals for each participating district in the Mahoning Valley:

Columbiana County ($302,306 total)

  • Columbiana Exempted Village School District: $27,734.00
  • Crestview Local School District: $36,630.00
  • East Liverpool City School District: $127,857.00
  • East Palestine City School District: $32,942.00
  • Leetonia Exempted Village School District: $5,000.00
  • Lisbon Exempted Village School District: $9,658.00
  • Southern Local School District: $10,115.00
  • Wellsville Local School District: $52,068.00

Mahoning County ($560,456 total)

  • Austintown Local School District: $70,419.00
  • Boardman Local School District: $31,927.00
  • Canfield Local School District: $10,500.00
  • Jackson-Milton Local School District: $20,030.00
  • Lowellville Local School District: $22,180.00
  • Poland Local School District: $5,000.00
  • South Range Local School District: $34,651.00
  • Struthers City School District: $37,266.00
  • West Branch Local School District: $7,921.00
  • Western Reserve Local School District: $24,387.00
  • Youngstown City School District: $244,245.00

Trumbull County ($217,449 total)

  • Bristol Local School District: $10,696.00
  • Brookfield Local School District: $6,321.00
  • Girard City School District: $9,397.00
  • Howland Local School District: $18,836.00
  • Hubbard Exempted Village School District: $14,034.00
  • Liberty Local School District: $9,321.00
  • Lordstown Local School District: $9,049.00
  • McDonald Local School District: $7,482.00
  • Newton Falls Exempted Village School District: $27,388.00
  • Niles City School District: $10,566.00
  • Southington Local School District: $48,884.00
  • Weathersfield Local School District: $11,137.00

The grant program is designed to be flexible, allowing school districts to tailor their purchases to meet their specific needs. Grant funds may be used for high-cost upgrades, such as external camera systems, seatbelts, or other occupant-restraining devices, and silent panic alert technology that connects directly to emergency services.

Districts may also use the money for collision prevention equipment on new buses, including collision avoidance systems, lane departure warning systems, and electronic stability control.

Visibility enhancements are also eligible for funding, covering items like fully illuminated school bus signs, illuminated stop arms at the front and rear of the vehicle, all-LED lighting, and ground wash lights.

Finally, districts can purchase structural and communication features such as crossing arms, reflective chevrons, and broadband push-to-talk capabilities to improve radio communication with public safety agencies.