While results from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s annual school bus inspection program were not all good for Texas County’s seven school districts, two came away with a clean slate.
Both the Houston and Cabool districts received 100-percent approval rates in results released last week. All 19 of Houston’s buses were cleared by personnel in the patrol’s Motor Vehicle Inspection Division, while Cabool went 18-for-18.
Conversely, Success only had one-of-four buses pass, with two put out of service and another deemed “defective,” and Summersville had only five-of-11 vehicles approved, with two removed from service and four labeled defective. Licking had 19 buses inspected and 14 were approved (three out of service and two defective), Plato had 11-of-15 pass (four defective) and Raymondville had three-of-four approved with one put out of service.
Houston was 16-for-18 in approved buses in 2014 and had a perfect score of 18-for-18 in 2013.
“The safety of our students is always paramount in everything we do,” said Houston Schools Superintendent Scott Dill. “For the balance of our students that begins with the big yellow school bus that picks them up every morning. Knowing our fleet is maintained at such an outstanding level is a tremendous boon to both students and constituents of the school district.”
Cabool achieved the best possible results for the third straight year (going 17-for-17 last year and 18-for-18 in 2013). Plato’s results dipped this year after a 15-for-16 approval rate last year, while Success had three-of-four buses pass last year. Raymondville improved from last year’s 0-for-4 showing, while Summersville took a step backward after having seven-of-10 buses approved last year, and Licking bettered its results from 2014 when 12-of-20 of its buses were approved.
A total of 11,986 school buses were inspected statewide between Feb. 2 and May 15, and 88.3 percent were approved upon initial inspection. Buses found to have no defects are rated as “approved.” Buses having one or more defects, but deemed to be safe for the transport of students, are rated as “defective.” Buses found to have one or more defects that could compromise safe transportation of students are rated as “out-of-service.”
Defective buses may continue to by used for transporting students until repair is made, and school districts are allowed 10 days following initial inspection to repair identified defects before being reinspected. Buses placed out-of-service must be repaired, reinspected and placed back into service by patrol personnel prior to transporting students again.
Dill credited Houston Schools director of transportation Joe Montgomery with the district’s first-rate bus inspection results.
“Mr. Montgomery is outstanding in his field, as demonstrated by decades of dedicated, high-quality service to the Houston School District,” Dill said. “His steadfast adherence to the highest standards ensure our transportation services are among the best in the state.
“He is a tremendous asset to the district and a credit to his profession.”
A total of 251 Missouri school districts earned the distinction this year of “total fleet excellence” for approval ratings of 90 percent or higher with no buses placed out-of-service, and each will receive a certificate from the patrol. During the 2015-’16 school year, 5,758 buses in the award-winning fleets can bear a special sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger-entry side of the bus.
The safety of our students is always paramount in everything we do.”