After that deadline, unless an injunction being sought by the Michigan Association of Pupil Transportation is successful, buses that continue to operate without being inspected would be considered illegal and would be required to be taken removed from service. Since the termination was announced, MAPT has not only kept its members updated, but Executive Director Karen Losch has been meeting with officials from around the state to find a quick solution.

“Our law says the state police 'shall inspect,' and it says that our buses 'shall not operate' if they have not been inspected. That's the dilemma we find ourselves in,” said Losch.

School bus inspections are paid for under the state's school aid funds, totalling $1.4 million annually. The state legislature failed to complete the School Aid Act this year, and now school districts and contractors are feeling the effects. According to Michigan law, the state police “shall inspect each school bus annually,” and the law later states that operators “shall not operate” a bus that has not been inspecting. This also includes new buses from the vehicle manufacturers, which must pass state inspections before they are put into service.

“Our superintendents association has jumped on board in the last week, because now the buck falls on their desk,” said Losch.

MAPT held a summit yesterday involving all the state educational associations, school board associations, school administrators, school business officials, state police, the state department of education, and legal representation to discuss common concerns. They are planning to petition the Gov. Jennifer Granholm's office for a 30- or 60-day injunction barring the dismantling of this program to give more time to work out a solution.

MAPT and its partners were drafting a letter to the governor.

“Our whole state is in such a financial fiasco,” added Losch.

Granholm tried to eliminate the state funded school bus inspection program for the 2006 fiscal year, but that attempt was overturned by the legislature.