Fostoria Parent Raises Concerns Over Chronic Bus Delays Impacting Junior High Athletics

By The Fostoria Free Press Staff December 21, 2025

FOSTORIA, Ohio — A local parent has publicly voiced frustration over ongoing transportation delays affecting Fostoria City Schools‘ junior high athletic events, highlighting a broader issue of bus driver shortages that has persisted into the 2025-2026 school year.

In an email to school administrators, including Superintendent Jason Longbrake and Principal Jodi Gaietto, parent Grace Smith detailed how teams routinely arrive 30 minutes or more late to games due to bus issues. Smith, mother of 7th-grader Scarlett Smith, cited examples from volleyball and basketball seasons, including a recent junior high girls’ basketball game scheduled for 5 p.m. that started at 5:55 p.m.

“These repeated delays are disruptive not only to the athletes, coaching staff, officials, and opposing schools, but also to parents and families,” Smith wrote. She noted taking time off work to arrive on time, only to wait due to preventable issues, such as wrong addresses provided to drivers.

A follow-up message from “GS” (presumed Grace Smith) emphasized modeling punctuality, stating: “As a school that places such strong emphasis on punctuality, to the extent that students are being suspended for being late, it should be reasonable to expect that our leaders model the same behavior.”

The district responded, explaining the delays stem from a severe bus driver shortage. Athletic buses cannot depart until regular afternoon elementary routes are completed, and absences further complicate scheduling. “We have had job postings for new bus drivers up for the past two years and have not had many applicants,” the response noted. Transportation Director Nicole Lopez was suggested for further discussion.

This issue mirrors a statewide problem, with Ohio’s bus driver numbers dropping significantly in recent years, forcing districts to prioritize regular routes over extracurricular trips.

Parents like Smith have also suggested alternatives, such as improving job postings with clearer descriptions or negotiating more home games to reduce travel.

The Fostoria Free Press reached out to Fostoria City Schools for comment but had not received a response at press time. The district’s transportation page lists ongoing efforts to recruit drivers.

Community members interested in applying for bus driver positions can contact the transportation department at fostoriaschools.org.

This story underscores the challenges small districts face in balancing education, athletics, and staffing amid national shortages. Stay tuned for updates.