Princeton City Schools is finalizing a potential Cincinnati Metro transportation plan for students in grades 7–12 as the First Student bus driver strike continues, Superintendent Mari Phillips told families. The district has not announced a start date.

The plan, outlined in an Oct. 9 letter to families, does not cover elementary students. The district said Metro’s educational transportation policy covers grades 7–12, and is still working to find alternatives for younger children.

The strike began at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1 after contract talks between First Student and bus drivers represented by the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE)/AFSCME Local 184 broke down. About 5,900 students across Sharonville, Evendale, Woodlawn, Springdale, Glendale and Lincoln Heights lost bus service, WCPO reported.

Negotiations resumed Friday, Oct. 9 but ended without a deal. Both sides are scheduled to return to the table Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Phillips said the district would send families more details about Metro routes and schedules over the weekend. For Monday, Oct. 12, she asked families to stick with whatever transportation arrangements they have been using.

Parents of students in grades 7-12 can fill out a district survey gauging their comfort with Metro service.

The district also canceled the scheduled Late Start Day for Wednesday, Oct. 14. All schools will run on regular start and dismissal times that day.

Health insurance remains a central sticking point. Union leaders have said many drivers rely on Medicaid, Medicare or insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act because First Student does not provide employer-paid coverage.

First Student has countered with a wage proposal it says exceeds 27% over four years, with a top rate reaching about $40 per hour, as WLWT reported. The company also filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging the union has not bargained in good faith.

Derryl Hall, lead negotiator for OAPSE/AFSCME Local 184, told WCPO on Friday that drivers "would love to get back to work, but … they'll stay out for as long as it takes to get what they want."

As we reported Oct. 8, the school board approved an emergency bus contract earlier in the strike, prioritizing students with disabilities. The proposed Metro option would add a second layer of backup transportation, though cost details and route specifics have not been released.

Princeton City Schools is not a party to the labor negotiations and cannot intervene in the bargaining process. Families experiencing transportation problems should contact their child's school directly.

Drivers plan to return to the picket line at 5 a.m. Monday.