Barry County buses get passing grades
June 14, 2017
Charlea Estes
After inspections by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Barry County’s school buses got passing grades and all will remain in commission.
Each year, the Missouri State Highway Patrol inspects school buses as part of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division’s school bus inspection program. Between February 2 and May 5, Highway Patrol personnel inspected Missouri Schools’ buses. This year, the statewide average approval was 90.24 percent. Barry County’s average was 83.48 percent.
According to a report released by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there are three categories buses fall into: approved, defective and out of service. Despite the name, defective does not mean buses cannot be operated until repairs are made. Out of service buses had to be repaired, reinspected and placed back into service by the Missouri State Highway Patrol inspection personnel before transporting students again. Buses were allotted 10 days to be repaired and reinspected.
Inspection results were:
Cassville R-IV: 26 buses inspected, 26 buses approved, 100 percent approval rating.
Exeter R-VI: 5 buses inspected, 4 buses approved, 1 bus considered defective, 80 percent approval rating.
Monett R-I: 26 buses inspected, 20 buses approved, 3 buses considered defective*, 3 buses out of service*, 76.9 percent approval rating.
Shell Knob 78: 7 buses inspected, 6 buses approved, 1 bus considered defective, 85.7 percent approval rating.
Southwest R-V: 18 buses inspected, 15 buses approved, 1 bus considered defective, 2 buses out of commission, 83.3 percent approval rating.
Wheaton R-III: 8 buses, 6 approved, 2 buses defective*, 75 percent approval rating.
*Wheaton Schools has since replaced the two defective buses with new models utilizing a clean diesel grant. Monett’s superintendent was unavailable to answer questions regarding any bus replacements.
Charlea Estes
After inspections by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Barry County’s school buses got passing grades and all will remain in commission.
Each year, the Missouri State Highway Patrol inspects school buses as part of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division’s school bus inspection program. Between February 2 and May 5, Highway Patrol personnel inspected Missouri Schools’ buses. This year, the statewide average approval was 90.24 percent. Barry County’s average was 83.48 percent.
According to a report released by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there are three categories buses fall into: approved, defective and out of service. Despite the name, defective does not mean buses cannot be operated until repairs are made. Out of service buses had to be repaired, reinspected and placed back into service by the Missouri State Highway Patrol inspection personnel before transporting students again. Buses were allotted 10 days to be repaired and reinspected.
Inspection results were:
Cassville R-IV: 26 buses inspected, 26 buses approved, 100 percent approval rating.
Exeter R-VI: 5 buses inspected, 4 buses approved, 1 bus considered defective, 80 percent approval rating.
Monett R-I: 26 buses inspected, 20 buses approved, 3 buses considered defective*, 3 buses out of service*, 76.9 percent approval rating.
Shell Knob 78: 7 buses inspected, 6 buses approved, 1 bus considered defective, 85.7 percent approval rating.
Southwest R-V: 18 buses inspected, 15 buses approved, 1 bus considered defective, 2 buses out of commission, 83.3 percent approval rating.
Wheaton R-III: 8 buses, 6 approved, 2 buses defective*, 75 percent approval rating.
*Wheaton Schools has since replaced the two defective buses with new models utilizing a clean diesel grant. Monett’s superintendent was unavailable to answer questions regarding any bus replacements.