MARIETTA, Ohio (WTAP) - The Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities is donating an ADA-compliant school bus to Marietta City Schools following the end of the board’s services for school-age children.

The board can no longer offer school services after a levy failed last year, leading to the end of its programs at the Ewing School. According to WCBDD Superintendent Tiffany Neill, as part of transitioning its assets, the board reached out to all area school districts about potentially donating a bus, but only Marietta City Schools accepted.

According to Marietta City Schools Operations Director Derrick Huck, the bus will serve as a backup for the district’s two existing accessible buses, filling in during maintenance.

“It would be beneficial for if one of our current route buses break down, we can use that as a backup while that is being serviced during that time,” Huck said.

Huck said having a spare bus will also help future-proof the district’s fleet.

“It’s hard to tell how many future students may need an ADA-compliant bus to be used. Right now we currently have 43 students that utilize the two buses that we do have in the district right now. But you never know during the school year with open enrollment what kids may move to the district that need those types of services provided,” Huck said.

The bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift, seatbelts, and other features designed to accommodate passengers with disabilities.

Neill said the donation reflects the board’s desire to continue supporting students with disabilities in the community.

“Considering taxpayers had purchased the buses, we certainly felt that it would be right to try to leave the buses within our community,” Neill said. “We want kiddos to be able to get to obviously school as well as sporting events or anything extra that they might participate in.”

Neill said the donation is a way to make the best of the board’s current circumstances. “Not that it’s necessarily a silver lining, but again, it’s about us wanting to give back and potentially reduce that cost if they’re transporting their students,” she said. “That’s what our idea was, to give back to the community.”

In addition to the donation to Marietta City Schools, the board is selling two buses to the Marietta Boys and Girls Club, one at a discounted rate.