By Jordan Wilcox
Assistant Publisher
For the third time in five years, Fennville Public Schools lead mechanic, Dave Johnson, has achieved a perfect school bus inspection score.
Perfect inspections are rare and very hard to achieve. Less than 5% of Michigan school districts receive a 100% inspection on the first attempt.
Annual 80+ point school bus inspections are conducted by former bus mechanics and commercial enforcement officers, employed by the Michigan State Police’s School Bus Inspection Division.
Inspectors thoroughly check all parts of the school bus, including its 26-passenger seats, electrical systems, mechanical systems, tires, and exits.
Buses are then tagged based on the results.
A green tag means it’s in complete safe and working condition. A yellow tag is for minor issues that don’t prevent the bus from running, like a burnt-out light. And a red tag indicates the bus has a major problem, such as an exhaust leak, and must be laid up for repair.
All buses must pass, or be repaired and reinspected before use.
Johnson’s record in 5 regular inspections and three rechecks, is three 100%, and two 95%, having only one yellow-tagged bus, and one red-tagged bus in 8 inspections.
After the inspection, Fennville Public Schools issued the following statements on Facebook:
“At Fennville, school bus safety isn’t just a priority—it’s a commitment.” … “Maintaining top safety standards is a team effort between transportation supervisors, drivers, and mechanics. Drivers conduct thorough pre and post-trip inspections, while mechanics ensure every bus remains in peak condition.”…“Thank you, Fennville Transportation Team, for your dedication to student safety!”
Fennville Public Schools operates 14 buses, transporting 800 students daily.
The public can view any school bus’s inspection record by scanning the QR code on its entry door.
