As the end of “Love the Bus” month approaches, it’s crucial to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of our student's daily commute – the dedicated mechanics and transportation staff who ensure the safety and reliability of our school buses. These individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes, performing the essential tasks and inspections that allow our students to travel safely to and from school every day.
“We have 205 yellow buses on the road each day and approximately 50 white activity buses,” said transportation director Jeremy Stowe. “Each day, our yellow buses travel over 15,000 miles carrying approximately 10,000 students.”
Buncombe County Schools’ skilled mechanics take great pride in their work, understanding the important responsibility they bear. With meticulous attention to detail, they conduct monthly inspections and routine maintenance on every vehicle in our fleet. From engine checks to brake system overhauls, they make sure we uphold the highest safety standards for our students.
“Each bus must undergo a thorough 30 day safety inspection each school month,” said Mr. Stowe. “The inspections are very extensive and cover well over 500 different items to inspect - from brakes to fluids to lights to seat padding. The concentration of the inspections is to ensure that every bus is safe for every student.”
We hold our mechanics and transportation staff in high regard, not only for their technical expertise but for their unwavering commitment to ensuring the well-being of each person who steps on to one of our buses. They take pride in their proactive approach, anticipating and addressing issues before they become problems. This commitment extends beyond mechanics; it’s the hallmark of our transportation department.
“Each year we have a surprise inspection from NCDPI,” said Mr. Stowe. “This inspection looks at our entire department, from fleet safety and stability, to inventory control and standard operating procedures. We had a score of 19.96 this year which is considerably lower than the state average. The lower the score the better the inspection.”
Thanks to the efforts of our mechanics and transportation staff, parents can have peace of mind knowing their children and in safe hands. Their work ensures that our buses are a safe haven to transport our students to a brighter future.