News Releases
April 17, 2004
School Bus Fleet Magazine Recognizes District 15 Transportation Department
 The Transportation Department of Community Consolidated School District 15
has been recognized by School Bus Fleet magazine as having one of
the top ten maintenance programs in the nation. The department was
recognized by the Board of Education at its April 14 meeting.
The district’s maintenance program also was named one of the best
in Illinois after a surprise state inspection that resulted in the
passing of all the district’s 138 buses.
District mechanics receive training in workshops conducted by the
Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation as well as other workshops
provided by industry-related companies. Mechanics also schedule
their own monthly meetings to address concerns immediately. The
shop is trained to track and perform preventive maintenance in four
areas: grease service, major services, brake inspections and valve
adjustment. A computer software program enables tracking of both
preventive maintenance and parts for all district vehicles, and
a computer lab helps mechanics stay abreast of current shop information.
“We choose to focus on care and safety,” explained Bill Willetts,
transportation director for District 15. “If there is ever
a question as to whether we should or should not do the work on
a bus, the shop always responds, ‘Do it. Let’s make it safer.’”
“That attitude sets the tone for an outstanding program,” the magazine
noted.
District 15’s Transportation Department serves 26 schools and transports
more than 10,000 students annually. The maintenance staff of 11
services 143 total vehicles which travel 1.6 million miles annually.
Last year the department received the national Association for
Pupil Transportation’s Leland E. G. Larson award for quality
student transportation.
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