MARIES COUNTY — Both the Maries County R-1 and R-2 school districts received mixed results during the 2026 Missouri State Highway Patrol’s (MSHP) annual school bus inspection program, according to a recently released report.

Col. Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the MSHP, reported inspectors worked with school district transportation staff across the state to examine more than 11,000 buses, with 10,239 receiving an approved rating on their initial inspection.

In the Maries County R-1 School District in Vienna, inspectors examined 12 buses, of which six, or 50 percent, received an approved rating, five buses, or 41.7 percent, were found to have defects, while one bus, or 8.3 percent, was placed out of service.

The Maries County R-2 School District had 11 buses inspected. of which seven, or 63.6 percent, received an approved rating, three buses, or 27.2 percent, were found to have defects and one bus, or 9.1 percent, was placed out of service.

“Through the unified effort of Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel and pupil transportation professionals statewide, the successful inspection of over 11,000 school buses occurred in accordance with Missouri revised state statutes,” Turner said in the report. “The annual inspection of school buses is one of many ways the Patrol, Missouri schools and private pupil transportation companies work together to ensure the safety of children while they travel on school buses.”

There were 849 buses that received a defective rating during the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division’s 2026 annual school bus inspection program. Buses with identified defects must be repaired within 10 days.

MSHP inspectors also placed 283 buses out of service following their initial inspection. Buses designated out of service require correction of the identified problems, reinspection and authorization from Patrol personnel before they may be used to transport students.

Missouri school bus inspection results are a matter of public record. Individual school district results for 2026 are available on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s website. School bus inspection criteria, including reasons for out-of-service designations, are also available through MSHP’s website.