By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
LANSING — The Michigan State Police – Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division is responsible for the annual inspection of each school bus and public transportation vehicle that operates in the state. Numbers from the last inspection report show some buses failed to pass.
The report indicated Vassar Public Schools was the only district in The Advertiser’s readership area where none of the buses had a violation at the time of inspection, and that buses in the Kingston Schools had the most tagged with violations.
However, Kingston School’s Superintendent Matt Drake challenges the MSP report which says his district has 29 buses; and of that number, four
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were yellow tagged and 10 were red tagged.
“First off, we don’t have 29 buses. We have a total of 13 buses. Of that, eight are route buses and five are sub buses so their numbers are off,” Drake pointed out. “The issues that were found were not ‘major mechanical’ ones, and the issues that were found have been corrected.”
Also, Drake noted the report doesn’t explain what the violations were for, and that some of them could be a simple issue — like worn padding in the back of a bus seat.
“There is a metal bar that goes around the back of a bus seat that kids grip… the inspector tagged that as a violation because it should have been thicker,” explained Drake. “It’s rather difficult not to get any infractions. Some very minor things can be a tagged as an infraction.
“Student safety is always number one.”
Vehicles that have been inspected and passed are identified with a sticker placed on the front windshield. The inspection sticker displays the Michigan State Police “shield’’ and the school calendar year. School buses rejected by the MSP for pupil transportation are “red tagged.” The inspection determined an unsafe issue was found. Michigan law requires the repair of all red tag items before placing that bus back into passenger service.
Buses that received “yellow tags” indicates a bus that was found in an unsatisfactory condition, but are safe for operation. Those school buses by law must be repaired within 60 days of the original inspection date.
The MSP – Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Report results for the Advertiser’s coverage area are as follows:
Akron – Fairgrove Schools has a total of seven buses; and of that, one was red tagged.
Caro Schools has a total of 31 buses; and of that, two were red tagged.
Cass City Schools has a total of 14 business; and of that number, two were red tagged.
Frankenmuth Schools has a total of 15 buses; and of that number one was yellow tagged and one was red tagged.
Marlette Schools has a total of 16 buses; and of that number, three were red tagged.
Mayville Schools has a total of 15 buses; and of that number, three were red tagged.
Millington schools has a total of 18 buses; and of that number, one was red tagged.
North Brach Schools has a total of 35 buses; and of that number, six were yellow tagged and five were red tagged.
Owendale – Gagetown Schools has a total of three buses; and of that number one was red tagged.
Reese Schools has a total of 12 buses; and of that number, five were red tagged.
Unionville – Sebewaing Area Schools ha a total 11 buses; and of that number, two were yellow tagged and four were red tagged.
According to MSP – Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Sgt. Mike McLaughlin, the report shouldn’t create panic because any issue with a bus has been corrected by now.
“You have to remember an inspection is just a ‘snap shot in time’ period when an inspector was there. It does not reflect now,” he said. “It’s true – the buses where issues were found – could have been on operating, and some may have been. It is important to know there is an issue so it can be corrected.”
McLaughlin noted that tags are given for minor issues – like a light or turn single being out – as well as for mechanical issues.
“We hope districts keep their buses in good repair, and a thorough inspection helps with that,” he said.
In Michigan, there are approximately 17,000 vehicles that transport more than 800,000 children over 10 million miles annually. All public, private denominational, parochial, charter school and public school, academy vehicles transporting pupils to or from school or school-related events, must be inspected.
The MSP and the MSP – Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division are committed to ensuring that all children are transported to and from school in a safe manner. Because of that, a comprehensive school bus inspection program was developed.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.