diff --git a/db_init.py b/db_init.py
index 01af2ba1..bfdd6aa9 100644
--- a/db_init.py
+++ b/db_init.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 import sys
 import requests
-import validators
+import re
 
 from datetime import date, datetime
 
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
     Codes,
 )
 
+url_regex = re.compile(r"^(https?|ftp)://[^\s/$.?#].[^\s]*$")
+
 
 def fetch_json_data(json_url):
     response = requests.get(json_url)
@@ -63,7 +65,10 @@ def insert_courses_from_json(session, courses_data):
             if existing_course.name != course_name:
                 existing_course.name = course_name
         else:
-            new_courses.append(Courses(code=course_code, name=course_name))
+            new_course = Courses()
+            new_course.code = course_code
+            new_course.name = course_name
+            new_courses.append(new_course)
 
     if new_courses:
         session.add_all(new_courses)
@@ -91,9 +96,10 @@ def insert_schools_and_departments(session, schools_data):
             if school.description != school_description:
                 school.description = school_description
         else:
-            new_schools.append(
-                RPISchools(name=school_name, description=school_description)
-            )
+            new_school = RPISchools()
+            new_school.name = school_name
+            new_school.description = school_description
+            new_schools.append(new_school)
 
         for department_data in school_data.get("depts", []):
             department_id = department_data.get("code")
@@ -110,27 +116,24 @@ def insert_schools_and_departments(session, schools_data):
                 if department.school_id != school_name:
                     department.school_id = school_name
             else:
-                new_depts.append(
-                    RPIDepartments(
-                        id=department_id,
-                        name=department_name,
-                        description=department_description,
-                        school_id=school_name,
-                    )
-                )
+                new_department = RPIDepartments()
+                new_department.id = department_id
+                new_department.name = department_name
+                new_department.description = department_description
+                new_department.school_id = school_name
+                new_depts.append(new_department)
 
     if new_schools or new_depts:
         session.add_all(new_schools + new_depts)
         session.commit()
 
 
-def main():
-    app = create_app()
-
+def main() -> None:
     if len(sys.argv) < 2:
         sys.exit("No argument or existing argument found")
 
     if sys.argv[1] == "start":
+        app = create_app()
         with app.app_context():
             if db.inspect(db.engine).get_table_names():
                 print("Tables already exist.")
@@ -141,6 +144,7 @@ def main():
             db.create_all()
 
     elif sys.argv[1] == "clear":
+        app = create_app()
         with app.app_context():
             db.drop_all()
 
@@ -151,9 +155,10 @@ def main():
         j_url = sys.argv[2]
 
         # Validate that j_url is a valid URL
-        if not validators.url(j_url):
+        if not url_regex.match(j_url):
             sys.exit("Error: Invalid URL provided.")
 
+        app = create_app()
         with app.app_context():
             db.create_all()
 
@@ -172,9 +177,10 @@ def main():
         j_url = sys.argv[2]
 
         # Validate that j_url is a valid URL
-        if not validators.url(j_url):
+        if not url_regex.match(j_url):
             sys.exit("Error: Invalid URL provided.")
 
+        app = create_app()
         with app.app_context():
             db.create_all()
 
@@ -187,6 +193,7 @@ def main():
             db.session.close()
 
     elif sys.argv[1] == "create":
+        app = create_app()
         with app.app_context():
             db.create_all()