July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

School buses ready to roll (8/12/05)

Inspections made by state police

By By Barbara Wilkinson-

When it’s time for area students to return to classes the week after next, the school buses will be ready to roll.

All the buses in the Jay School Corporation and Randolph Central and Eastern School corporations passed inspection during a mandated annual review by the Indiana State Police, senior Trooper John Petro said this week. Petro oversees the bus inspections for the Redkey Post.

“Jay County buses were outstanding,” Petro said of the 54 vehicles inspected on July 28. “They had 100 percent approval rating, as usual,” which has been the case for several years.

A few minor problems were found, he said, but those were corrected that same day.

“I can’t praise them enough,” Petro said of Jay Schools transportation director Teresa Myers and her staff. “It’s very obvious they spend the summer months preparing for bus inspections.”

The 29 vehicles in the Randolph Central fleet received similar scores following an inspection on July 14.

That school corporation, which includes Winchester Community High School and Deerfield Elementary School, also received a 100 percent inspection rating — as it did last year. “They have a nice fleet of buses, also,” Petro said.

Fifteen buses operated by the Randolph Eastern School Corporation, which includes those transporting Union City students, were inspected on July 12. One violation — “rear shocks loose on one bus” — was found and corrected that day, Petro said.

The law requires all school buses up to 12 years old be inspected annually by the state police. School buses that are 12 years old or older must be inspected twice a year. The inspections are valid until Sept. 30 of the following year and usually occur during the summer prior to the start of school.

Each review includes a rigid 54-point inspection which covers the mechanics, safety features and cleanliness of each bus. These requirements are the minimum standards set by the Indiana State Department of Education School Bus Committee.

Some of the frequent violations found are non-functioning lights, exhaust leaks, torn seats and needed cleaning.

Those buses rejected for minor violations can still operate with a 30-day temporary certificate. Most violations are repaired immediately, according to an ISP press release.

School buses that are rejected, placed out of service or involved in a motor vehicle crash must be re-inspected.

ISP Motor Carrier Enforcement officers and troopers in the Redkey district inspected 625 school buses within 23 school corporations throughout Jay, Randolph, Blackford, Delaware and Grant counties.

The inspections began in July and were wrapped up Aug. 2.

In addition to the scheduled checks, the officers also do spot inspections in the fall and spring, Petro said.

“We pop in and do an unscheduled inspection after the kids are off the bus,” as a means of ensuring the students’ safety throughout the year, he said.[[In-content Ad]]
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