In accordance with ORC 3327.02, the Board of Education of a city, exempted village, or local school district may determine that it is impractical to transport a pupil who is eligible for transportation to and from a school under section 3327.01 of the Revised Code.
Transportation Reimbursement Information
Families of K-12 students residing in the Mentor Public Schools district who do not receive transportation services from Mentor Schools may qualify for reimbursement under Ohio state guidelines.
To be eligible, the non-public school your student attends must be less than a 30-minute bus drive from the Mentor School they would have attended (not from the building from which they are being transported). Schools located more than a 30-minute bus ride from the Mentor Schools they would have attended are considered ineligible. For detailed guidelines, please visit the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce website or ORC 3327.01
Mentor Schools transports to the following schools and are not eligible for payment-in-lieu
All Saints School of St. John Vianney (Pk-8)
Lake Catholic High School (9-12)
Mater Dei Catholic School (Pk-8)
Mentor Christian (Pk-12)
St. Gabriel Catholic School (Pk-8)
St. Mary of the Assumption - Mentor (Pk-8)
Please submit the following forms by the specified due dates:
1. Transportation Request Form: For the upcoming school year - requested by May 31st (unless new to the school).
You must request transportation so the district can determine if the school you are requesting is eligible for transportation, or if it is practical to transport your child. This is done through the completion of the
Transportation Request Form which will be submitted automatically to the Transportation Dept. - you will receive an immediate email notification indicating that your request was received.
2. Signed Impracticality Letter:
In early June, you will receive a letter (via email) outlining the next steps in the transportation request review process for non-public school students. The letter will state the date of the Mentor Schools Board of Education meeting, during which the Board will take action on the resolution - if the district has determined that transportation is impractical, based on the six factors outlined in
state law).
Following the board meeting, if the district determines that transportation is impractical, payment in lieu will be offered for the student and a notice will be sent to the family (see step 4). If the school you are requesting is deemed ineligible, you will be notified.
4. Signed Contract Forms: Due By Sept 1st
After passing the resolution declaring a student impractical to be transported, you will be provided with a digital contract to either accept or reject the 'in lieu' offer.
This contract must be submitted to Transportation by Sept. 1st.
Important!
Please be aware that requests submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Once the school year is over, Verification of Attendance is required: Due by June 15, 2025 for the 24-25 SY
In the first week of May, we will mail the Verification of Attendance forms to the non-public school on file for each child enrolled to confirm attendance (for each student who was board approved for Payment in Lieu of Transportation). Once completed and signed, the form must be returned to the Mentor Schools Transportation Department by June 15th. Please scan/email completed forms to: [email protected].
Additionally, it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to notify us of any changes to the home address or school of attendance.
Please note: Do not rely on your school to return the form on your behalf. To ensure timely processing, we ask that you scan/email the completed form directly to the Transportation Department at [email protected]. Returning the form on time is essential to receive payment.
Payments will be issued in mid-to-late July - must be board approved. Any forms not submitted by the deadline will no longer be eligible for payment.