May 2021 Transportation Department Update - Jimmy Slapper
While the rest of the school district winds down for the summer break, the Transportation Department begins its busiest three months. This summer we be running seven buses for the ESY/Summer School students. We have plans to transport the Football team, Band, and Cheerleaders to their camps around the state.
Federal Law requires all thirty four of our buses and eight fleet vehicles be inspected by a DOT Certified Mechanic. The will check the breaks, shocks, exhaust, tires and such. After the mechanic inspections we receive a list of needed repairs, we order the parts and then proceed to fix what we can in house and outsource the ones we can’t. All buses and fleet vehicles receive an oil change that we do ourselves.
On July 22nd the Highway Patrol comes out to our lot and performs their inspections. Once the vehicle passes their inspection they place a sticker on the windshield to certify that they are safe for the road for the upcoming school year.
During the summer months we are also busy getting all the drivers certified in all the required training like Defensive Driving and CPR/First Aid.
Once Enrollment opens at the end of July we are able to start getting the routes together and getting the drivers in to run the routes for times. About a week before school starts, the drivers will be given a list of all their assigned students. They will then call each and every one of those students to introduce themselves and give them the pickup/drop off times and locations.
We are constantly on the lookout for new drivers. During the summer we are able to train new drivers to receive their CDL with School Bus endorsement.
Please click here for more information regarding our Lansing USD 469 Transportation Department.