MCC Schools' Bus Fleet Once Again in the Red for Inspections

[XLFD]

Our local newspapers have yet to see this last Monday's article in the Detroit News, but I finally did.  Scottville and red-tagged schools buses are once again making the news, as seen in that article's beginning: 

"Scottville — If Mason County Central Schools had its way, it would replace a few of its aging buses every year.

But because the district doesn't have enough money, it went a decade without replacing a single one.

As a result, the rust on some buses is so bad that holes have formed on side panels, exposing the insulation beneath. Some of the district's 18 vehicles have logged 300,000 miles since 1995...

In Mason County Central, 13 of 18 buses failed inspection."

In the almost full article in the Detroit News they explain further:

"The Mason County Central Schools district in western Michigan said it would replace a few of its aging buses every year, but it went a decade without replacing any because of budget constraints. Thirteen of its 18 buses failed inspection.

"Our fleet is really old," said Jim Stapleton, garage supervisor for Mason County Central. "The ... inspectors don't lighten up on you just because you're rural."

The rust on some buses for Mason County Central Schools was so bad that holes have formed on side panels, exposing the insulation beneath, the newspaper reported. Some of the school district's 18 vehicles have logged 300,000 miles since 1995."

                                                                         MCC School Bus of the Future?

Back at the end of the 2012-2013 season, the Ludington Torch was able to get the MSP report for the MCC buses after they were taken out of service near the end of that school year.  In that inspection, 19 of the district's buses were red-tagged.  Apparently the active fleet has been reduced since then to 18, but the percentage of buses that have failed is nearly the same.

The article claims the district does not have enough money, but in 2014, the MCC district voters passed a millage renewal, and rollback cushion.  In 2013, MCC voters passed an operating millage proposal allowing the district to levy the statutory rate on property.  Remember when they spent nearly $17 million in 2006-2007 to construct a new upper elementary school and make improvements of other buildings?  The voters of the MCC district have always passed requests for more money and bond requests by their schools.  The people have not forsaken MCC. 

                                                                           MCC school building of the future?     

Mason County Central Schools have forsaken their people who expect their kids to be riding on safe buses.  It is a rural and expansive district, their buses will go through a lot more wear and tear than a bus traveling the paved roads of Ludington, and their school superintendent and board should understand that.  Ten years without replacing one bus in a fleet of over 20 is not only shortsighted, but also negligent. 

If you are a member of this district, contact Superintendent Jeff Mount (left) who has been  MCC Superintendent since 2006 and has not in that time suggested putting one cent towards purchasing a new bus as he is about to enter his tenth year, and find out why.  There has been enough money to offer raises to all of the administrative staff for many of those years, and offer respectable salaries and benefits for all. 

Better yet, give the whole school board an E-mail, letter or phone call to find out why they have forsaken the kids' safety.  Ask them why they have kept information about the latest bus inspection failures from the public, and ask why we have to find such information from Detroit papers that effectively poke fun at your school, rather than their own lame Detroit Schools!

If you interact with them, don't let them tell you they have been pinching pennies, because they have more money per pupil to spend than Ludington, Manistee, and Pentwater School Districts (see this link for each school, divide total revenue by total students), including $1800 more per pupil than Ludington ($10,807 to $9135, nearly 20% more).  These schools all have much better bus inspection records than MCC's 83% failure rate, with each school having over 50% of their buses passing. 

[Willy]

If MCC has 13 school buses in the red then how can they be on the road? I wonder if they are given one extension after another so they can make it to summer when repairs can be made without having them leave the bus yard? 50% is not what I would call an acceptable percentage for any school district. Good job X.

[XLFD]

I've heard from a couple people with kids in the district who were totally unaware of these results, but I hope to find the answer to your question shortly, Willy.  Superintendent Mount sometimes looks in, so maybe he will enlighten us in the meantime.

[XLFD]

Better news on the horizon for the MCC bus fleet?  In today's MCP it's revealed that:

Mason County Central School District is in the process of replacing its aging school bus fleet with new, fuel efficient and  safer buses. The school drecently [sic] came to a lease agreement with CH&H/Hoekstra Trucking.

According to Superintendent Jeff Mount, five new buses have been leased and this new lease agreement will replace the remaining old buses.   The district has received five new buses this week.  The remaining buses are currently being built and are expected to be in the district by the end of March.

Mount said the district has been searching for an economical solution to replace its aged bus fleet.  Over the past 3 months officials have been working with Tom Hoekstra from CH&H Leasing and Fleet Solutions to explore options.  Hoekstra and Kris Courtland-Willick, district business manager and director of transportation, developed a solution that will replace MCC’s fleet of old buses with all new, fuel efficient buses through a leasing agreement with CH&H and a service/maintenance agreement with Ludington Area Schools.

“The district’s aged fleet has required an extensive amount of annual repairs and maintenance in recent years,” Mount said. “Making two trips per day that covers the district’s 250 square miles puts a lot of wear and tear on their buses due to the tough road conditions that exist in a rural Michigan school district.  Because the new buses will be more fuel efficient, under warranty, and require less repair work, the savings from those budget line items will be equal to the lease payment for the new fleet.  Meaning, this solution is budget neutral.  The buses are scheduled to be replaced on a rotational basis every 3 years.

“We are genuinely excited to be able to economically replace our old and extremely expensive-to-maintain bus fleet with safer and more efficient buses. And this solution would not be possible without the willingness and ability of the Ludington Area Schools’ admininistration [sic] and transportation department.  This is such a great example of collaboration between school districts and the solid relationship we have with our neighbors to the west.”

Sounds promising, and yet the not-so-rural Ludington fleet that is Scottville's savior had only twelve of their 23 buses pass inspection.  That's 52% and still a failing grade.  Let's give them a ribbon for their effort though, they've finally done something with their buses after a decade of not doing their schoolwork.

[Willy]

I don't see how leasing vehicles is more cost affective than purchasing them. Leasing is a good deal if the person who leases them can write off the expense on their taxes. Schools don't pay taxes so there is no benefit for them. What has the school district gained if they must still make repairs. It's like repairing someone else's vehicle.