Richmond County Schools’ Transportation Department ranks number one in Central North Carolina for school bus inspection score

In order to ensure the safety of students being transported, North Carolina requires all school buses to be inspected every 30 calendar days.

The 2020-2021 inspection score for Richmond County Schools’ Transportation Department is 14.00, ranking them number one in Central North Carolina which includes 33 counties.

“I am so proud of my team for all their hard work,” said Debbie Blake, director of Transportation. “This past year was especially hard on all transportation departments around the state because of COVID-19. Delivering lunches and work assignments to the students in our county meant buses were still out on the road. We have had very little “downtime” for our buses, but our incredible team of technicians and bus garage staff has proven to be the best even in the most difficult times. This is an honor for our department.”

The inspection is completed by Local Education Agencies (LEA) transportation staff and is a key component of the State’s preventative maintenance program. They check everything including brakes, gauges, tires, engines, seats, emergency equipment, batteries and steering — just to name a few.

“We are very proud of our transportation team for being ranked number one in Central North Carolina,” said Superintendent Jeff Maples. “We always knew that they were the best, but now it’s official. The transportation team takes pride in their work individually and as a team. Parents and students can be assured that all buses are systematically inspected and maintained at the highest level to ensure everyone’s safety. This is a well-deserved recognition for our transportation team, and we appreciate them so much.”

The average score for N.C. Central LEAs last year was 36.55. A lower score indicates fewer defects found during the inspection.