The school bus inspection report for Michigan school districts is out and it might concern some parents.
Michigan State Police inspect each school bus extensively in all school districts each year.
They either pass or are tagged yellow or red.
If a bus is tagged red it can’t be driven until fixed.
The latest results are from September 2016 to August 2017.
Gladwin schools passed eight buses and 15 were tagged red.
Chippewa Hills school district passed 13 buses and 12 were tagged red.
A red tag may sound bad but it isn’t uncommon.
“It’s our older buses that we are catching up to being red tagged. Typically this is something inside with seats, believe it or not, they have to pass an inspection. Then another one that we heard of has to do with the frame and structure,” says Bob Grover, superintendent of Chippewa Hills Schools.
Just a couple of the issues with Chippewa Hills buses this past year after inspections. Luckily, they get it taken care of quick.
“Typically it’s something small that can be fixed right in house. We have a full time mechanic, so we’re able to go in find out what the defect is based on that report, fix it, get it back on the road,” says Grover.
Just three years ago, the district passed a bond that has helped reduce yellow and red tags, and buy new buses.
“In the next two years we should be able to purchase three to five each year and we should be able to replace our entire fleet in that time period,” says Grover.
Currently Chippewa Hills school buses don’t have any buses red or yellow tagged.
Parents just want to make sure their kids are safe.
“The safety for my kids is top priority. They ride from Chippewa Hills to Barryton Elementary, the intermediate school and the high school,” says Kayliecia Gilleran, parent”
Grover added, “we want to make sure they are safe and they can hold up to the integrity of traveling on those roads.”
The district encourages all parents to call in if they do notice something wrong with a school bus.
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