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A state audit has revealed major failures in Michigan’s school bus safety system -- including unqualified drivers, missed inspections, and buses deemed unsafe still being driven on the road. The 52-page report, released by the Michigan Office of the Auditor General, found that oversight gaps within the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan State Police (MSP) directly affected the safety and reliability of student transportation across the state. Two of the audit’s findings were labeled “material conditions,” meaning they directly impact student safety and the reliability of the transportation system -- not just minor administrative errors. What the audit found The audit reviewed data from 2020 to 2023 and sampled 242 of the 1,936 bus drivers reported statewide. Among the most serious findings: 69% of drivers lacked documentation proving they met all required qualifications under state law. 15 drivers had felony convictions, and their districts couldn’t provide paperwork approving their employment. 84% of districts failed to prove that daily pre-trip safety inspections were being completed. MSP’s inspection cycle allowed some buses to go more than a year -- and in some cases nearly two years -- between required safety inspections. 19% of red-tagged buses, deemed unsafe for operation, were driven at least 10 miles afterward. Seven percent were driven more than 50 miles. $1.8 million in annual state inspection reimbursements were paid out without documentation of actual costs. A look inside a bus inspection The Investigators at Local 4 went on-site with Michigan State Police vehicle safety inspector Jason Bain at the Romulus bus barn to see firsthand what a proper inspection looks like. Bain checks everything from lug nuts and body panels to lights, brakes, and fluid leaks. “I take a lot of pride in helping keep kids safe going to school,” he said. “If I’m doing my job, and they’re doing theirs, kids are getting to school safely.” Across Michigan, about 17,000 buses are supposed to receive one of three color-coded inspection stickers: Green -- Safe to operate Yellow -- Minor defect; must be fixed within 60 days Red -- Unsafe; cannot carry students until repaired and re-inspected Each bus also has a QR code that allows parents to check its inspection status. ---> Click here to view the Michigan School Bus Inspection Report for your district. Local school districts work to stay compliant At Romulus Community Schools, Stephanie Mitchell, the district’s operations manager who started as a driver more than 20 years ago, oversees 42 buses. “When they board the bus, they become my children,” Mitchell said. “I will love them, watch over them, and protect them just as if they were my own.” Mitchell couldn’t comment directly on the audit but said safety remains central to her team’s daily work. Drivers perform both pre-trip and post-trip inspections, she said, though staffing challenges make the job difficult. “A lot of people can drive the vehicle safely,” she said. “But managing students -- that’s the hardest part. It’s very, very challenging.” Mitchell acknowledged that with so many safety requirements and recordkeeping systems, it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. “But with good mechanics, good inspectors, and good drivers all working together, we try to stop it from happening,” she said. How MDE, MSP responded to the audit Both the Michigan Department of Education and Michigan State Police agreed with the audit’s findings and reported in the audit that corrective actions are underway. However, after months of repeated requests from Local 4 Investigators, neither agency would make an official available for an on-camera interview. Only communications staff responded to inquiries, and neither department provided detailed answers about the safety lapses or specific corrective measures being implemented. Local 4 will continue to follow up with both agencies to provide transparency for Michigan parents who rely on these buses to get their children safely to and from school. Read the entire audit here Read Michigan Department of Education’s response
