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All Stone County Schools Earn Passing Grades On Bus Fleets

​July 19, 2018
A graphic of a school bus with the caption
Isaac Estes-Jones
         Colonel Sandra K. Karsten, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announced the results of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division’s 2018 annual school bus inspection program. All five of Stone County’s schools received the Total Fleet Excellence Award with at least 90 percent of their buses approved during inspections. No Stone County school had “out-of-service” buses, meaning none were found with a defect causing immediate danger.
         Dr. Chris Johnson, Crane R-III School District Superintendent, said, “We were really excited hat our buses passed at 100% this year. It’s important to Crane to have safe transportation for all of our students. Our Transportation Director, Les Essary, does a great job.”
         All 10 buses inspected for the Crane R-III School District passed the inspection. 
         Additionally, Hurley R-I had a 100% approval rating, with all five buses passing the inspection. Blue Eye R-V also had 100% of their buses pass inspection. 12 buses were inspected at Blue Eye. 
         Galena and Reeds Spring both had a few buses fail the inspection, but still had over 90% pass, earning them the Total Fleet Excellence Award. 
         At Galena R-II, 20 buses were inspected, with 18 buses approved, 2 buses defective and 90 percent approval rating.
         At Reeds Spring, 37 buses were inspected, 36 buses approved, 1 bus defective, 97.3 percent approval rating.
         “The annual school bus inspection program is one way the Missouri State Highway Patrol serves and protects our children. This program is a success because the Highway Patrol, Missouri’s schools, and private pupil transportation companies make transporting students safely a priority,” said Colonel Karsten. “I appreciate the positive and professional working relationship our agency shares with these professionals.”
         According to the Highway Patrol, Buses rated as “defective” may continue to be operated for the purpose of transporting students until repair is made. School districts are allowed 10 days following initial inspection to repair identified defects before being re-inspected by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel. Buses rated as “out-of-service” must be repaired, re-inspected, and placed back into service by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel prior to transporting students. Buses not presented for re-inspection within the required 10-day period are reported to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
         During the annual school bus inspection program, buses found to have no defective items are rated as “approved.” Buses having one or more defective items which do not constitute an immediate danger are rated as “defective.” Buses with a defective item which constitutes an immediate danger are rated as “out-of-service.”
         A total of 12,018 school buses across the state of Missouri were inspected by Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel during the 2018 program. Of all buses inspected, 90.6 percent were approved by inspection personnel with no defective items noted during inspection.
         A total of 281 Missouri school districts earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence Award, obtaining an approval rating of 90 percent or higher with no buses placed out-of-service. During the 2018-2019 school year, 6,532 buses in these award-winning fleets are eligible to display the Total Fleet Excellence sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger-entry side of the bus.
         Missouri school bus inspection results are a matter of public record. Individual school district results are available on the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division webpage at http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/MVI/index.html.


All content copyright Stone County Publishing Co. Inc.
The Stone County Republican/Crane Chronicle
P.O. Box 401, Crane, Missouri 65633
Phone: 417-723-5248      Fax: 417-723-8490
  • Home
  • Inside This Week's Issue
    • Child nearly drowns in James River near Galena
    • Local businesses destroyed in overnight Buttonwood Center fire
    • Man sentenced in Billy Mack Walker murder case
    • Former garment factory building on the north side of Crane is for sale
    • Man sentenced for charges involving high speed pursuit
    • Kimberling City officer takes home crown at first responder pageant
    • Weekly Stock Market Insights
    • Crane woman seriously injured in motorcycle crash
    • Local students named to Missouri State University’s spring 2022 dean’s list
  • This Week's Issue
  • Archive
  • Our History
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    • Contact Form
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