Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools will begin the 2025-2026 school year with full implementation of exterior cameras on all district buses. This safety enhancement, first installed in the second half of last school year, is made possible through state and local grant funding.
Thanks to a competitive safety grant from the State of Ohio and additional support from the Tri-County Educational Service Center, every school bus in the LP fleet is now equipped with high-resolution exterior cameras that record continuously while buses are in motion. The technology will help monitor traffic violations, particularly drivers who illegally pass stopped buses, an ongoing and dangerous issue across Ohio.
“This is not just about enforcement, it’s about protecting our students,” said Superintendent Jennifer Allerding. “We experienced many issues last year with drivers running reds and passing buses. These cameras will serve as both a deterrent and a tool to hold drivers accountable.”
The camera installation comes at a critical time as Ohio lawmakers work to strengthen school transportation safety. Ohio House Bill 3, also known as the School Bus Safety Act, passed the House this summer with overwhelming bipartisan support. The legislation would increase penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus, including fines up to $1,000 and potential license suspensions for repeat offenders. H.B. 3 also supports the use of bus camera systems, like the ones LP has implemented, to assist in identifying and prosecuting violators.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, more than 14,000 citations were issued between 2017 and 2021 for drivers unlawfully passing school buses. However, experts believe thousands more incidents go unreported due to the lack of video evidence.
The 2025-26 school year marks the first full year of camera usage district-wide. LP Schools encourages all community members to review Ohio’s school bus laws, remain alert in school zones, and do their part to help keep our students safe.