Cincinnati Public Schools board members had a few hot-button issues to discuss Thursday evening. As many expected, the board voted unanimously to start the school year requiring masks for all students and staff in indoor settings. Masks are not required outdoors.School board members discussed at length the latest crisis on its hands -- busing -- without much consensus on how to move forward. SORTA announced last week that it would eliminate XTRA routes students have used for years to go directly to CPS buildings. "What are we going to do? We have to do something. Even if we say delay school, what are the implications of that? What is the impact of that?" said school board president Carolyn Jones. "We have to also take control of our own situation to some extent."SORTA is hosting a public meeting to discuss busing changes Thursday. It will be held virtually from 4-6 p.m."I thought this doesn't even seem possible that you would have this kind of change," said school board member Ryan Messer. "They might be there for 24 hours getting public comment."David Brenner is a parent of CPS students and spoke during the public comment portion of the school board meeting. "There is irrefutable harm, and it is a huge safety issue for our students," he said. "When I looked at what it would take for my students to get to school, it was at least double, so they would be on the bus at least an hour each way plus a substantial walk to get to school or to home."Educators are also concerned.Cincinnati Federation of Teachers president Julie Sellers listed several issues, including pedestrian safety."I think it's way too dangerous," she said. "I do think that the district should talk with the legal department to find out about seeking a temporary injunction prohibiting any change."The board voted to draft a letter of opposition and send it to SORTA ahead of its public meeting Thursday afternoon. The board also agreed to send additional communication about the situation to parents, request to meet face-to-face with the SORTA board CEO and request city and county leaders to also write formal letters of opposition.
Cincinnati Public Schools board members had a few hot-button issues to discuss Thursday evening.
As many expected, the board voted unanimously to start the school year requiring masks for all students and staff in indoor settings. Masks are not required outdoors.
School board members discussed at length the latest crisis on its hands -- busing -- without much consensus on how to move forward. SORTA announced last week that it would eliminate XTRA routes students have used for years to go directly to CPS buildings.
"What are we going to do? We have to do something. Even if we say delay school, what are the implications of that? What is the impact of that?" said school board president Carolyn Jones. "We have to also take control of our own situation to some extent."
SORTA is hosting a public meeting to discuss busing changes Thursday. It will be held virtually from 4-6 p.m.
"I thought this doesn't even seem possible that you would have this kind of change," said school board member Ryan Messer. "They might be there for 24 hours getting public comment."
David Brenner is a parent of CPS students and spoke during the public comment portion of the school board meeting.
"There is irrefutable harm, and it is a huge safety issue for our students," he said. "When I looked at what it would take for my students to get to school, it was at least double, so they would be on the bus at least an hour each way plus a substantial walk to get to school or to home."
Educators are also concerned.
Cincinnati Federation of Teachers president Julie Sellers listed several issues, including pedestrian safety.
"I think it's way too dangerous," she said. "I do think that the district should talk with the legal department to find out about seeking a temporary injunction prohibiting any change."
The board voted to draft a letter of opposition and send it to SORTA ahead of its public meeting Thursday afternoon. The board also agreed to send additional communication about the situation to parents, request to meet face-to-face with the SORTA board CEO and request city and county leaders to also write formal letters of opposition.
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