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Columbus City Schools leasing some buses due to transportation company's funding issue

Columbus City Schools school bus
Natasha Williams
/
WOSU
A Columbus City Schools school bus parked outside Summit Academy School in southeast Columbus.

Columbus City Schools is leasing dozens of buses to one of the companies it contracts with to service about 80 bus routes this school year.

The company, Universal Transportation Systems, encountered an unforeseen funding issue when it tried to purchase an additional 40 buses at the last minute, says a school district spokesperson.

The Columbus City Schools' Board of Education rectified that by voting in favor of a contract to lease 45 buses for over $20,000 a month.

The state's largest school district faces a shortage of bus drivers like many other school districts throughout the state.

CCS says the deal will help ensure the district is able to cover all its busing routes and that there is not a disruption in service.