State Gives UCS Bus Fleet an A-plus

The polished wheels on all 264 Utica Community School busses will go around and around come Sept. 6, the first day of school.

The Michigan State Police gave the entire bus fleet a 100 percent passing rate during a recent safety inspection.

"The inspector was very impressed with how well our bus fleet is being maintained," said Director of Transportation Jan Delboy. "He commented to our head mechanic that this is one of best maintained fleets he has ever seen."

This is the first time in nearly 30 years that the district has earned a perfect inspection. UCS buses typically pass the annual inspection with a rate in the high 90th percentile, but there are usually some small fixes that need to addressed before the inspector leaves the ground, said UCS in a news release.

Inspectors review nearly 300 items on the buses from brakes, steering and suspension, warning lights and first aid kits during the annual inspections.

Since state inspectors visit district garages with little notice, the UCS fleet undergo a regular maintenance check by one of the district’s 11 mechanics.

More than 21,000 students are eligible to ride UCS buses, which travel more than three million miles annually.

“Our goal is the same as every employee in Utica Community Schools – to make sure that every child achieves,” Delboy said.  “We know we are the first face they see in the morning and the last they see at the end of the day."