Dublin City Schools voted to join a nationwide litigation against Meta and Google. The district also warned families that a bus driver shortage is pushing some student drop-off times later.

Both developments came out of the board of education's Monday, Oct. 12, meeting. Members approved a Fee Retainer Agreement to join existing litigation against major social media companies. The district said joining the lawsuit carries no financial cost to Dublin City Schools.

The litigation alleges social media companies built products that harm children's mental health and shifted the cost of addressing that harm to schools. More than 1,000 districts have joined the federal case, according to EdSource. The next school-district bellwether trial is scheduled for February 2027.

Columbus City Schools voted in September to join the same federal litigation, also at no upfront cost. In May, Breathitt County School District in Kentucky became the first district to settle with social media companies, reaching a $27 million agreement.

Bus drivers stretched thin

Superintendent Jennifer Schwanke stressed the district's need for more bus drivers, according to the district's meeting recap. To cover all routes, many drivers are completing "double back" runs, picking up one group of students, dropping them off and returning for another. The result: later drop-off times for some students.

The district's HR and transportation teams are recruiting, but the shortage mirrors a statewide problem. Ohio public schools face a 15% day-to-day bus shortage, according to the National Association for Pupil Transportation as reported by Columbus Underground. Ohio had 17,008 active bus drivers, according to a September report.

Fleet Manager Tom Belcher, who oversees more than 200 Dublin City Schools vehicles, described the year-round pressure on transportation staff in an August district profile. "The schools get a break. Teachers get a break. We don't get a break. We're here all the time," Belcher said.

Boundary transition on track

Deputy Superintendent Samantha Althouse reported that almost 75% of families had completed the school determination form for the 2027-28 high school boundary transition. The deadline to submit the form is Friday, Oct. 16.

Once the form window closes, administrators will update student information systems so high school scheduling can begin after winter break in January. Athletic directors and district administrators have finalized a communication timeline for coaches to begin speaking with athletes moving to new schools.

Other board business

Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Lori Marple said schools are implementing new math resources adopted last spring. The K-12 social studies team plans to present a revised course of study to the board this spring. Educational technology reviews are being formally integrated into the curriculum review cycle for the first time this school year.

The board honored October Golden Shamrock Award recipients Heather DeWees, a World Language and Spanish teacher at John Sells Middle School, and Christine Roliff, guidance secretary at Eversole Run Middle School. Roliff will be formally recognized in November.

The full meeting is available on YouTube.