Perfect score for SP buses

It's the first week of school and South Putnam School Corp's buses have already received a perfect score of 100 percent.

Transportation Director Chuck Shaffer told the BannerGraphic that the school systems buses were recently inspected and passed with a perfect score.

Trooper Bill Partridge,who inspected the buses, reported that in 20 years, he has only seen three schools pass with a perfect score. This was the first perfect score for the South Putnam schools, which generally score well. Partridge inspects buses for seven other schools. He gave kudos to South Putnam for doing such a fine job.

Shaffer credits corporation mechanic Don Reitzel, the summer cleaning crew of Nancy Knapp, Corey Puckett, Jill Miller and Thomas Crafton, and his drivers.

"We have the best group of people. Our mechanic is superior. The cleaning crew had the buses spotless. Even our drivers did a great job in cleaning up their buses at the end of the school year in May," reported Shaffer.

During an inspection, which occurs every year prior to the school year, buses are checked for safety and cleanliness from inside out.

"I knew it was a good sign when the buses were turned in at the end of the school year and we only had three tears in bus seats," noted Shaffer.

South Putnam's bus drivers also have a good driving record. The only incident they had last year was a property damage accident caused by a driver trying to pass the bus with the stop sign extended.

"Our drivers are very good controlling behavior on the bus. That helps creates less distractions. If a kid misbehaves they get a letter sent home and if they continue to be a problem they are taken off the bus," said Shaffer.

"We have a training officer who works with all our drivers including the subs on safety issues and good driving practices. Our drivers have Commercial Driving Licenses. We have very few who haven't passed the test on their first try. We get great support from the superintendent and all the school principals," noted Shaffer.

"We're really pleased at having a perfect score," he concluded.