ALLEN PARK, Mich. – After hearing that most of Allen Park Public Schools’ buses failed inspection, one concerned parent turned to Local 4 with questions about student safety and the reliability of the service.
The parent’s friend, who has three children in the district and asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said late buses and mechanical issues have become a regular problem.
“It’s been like the wild, wild West,” he said. “It’s been bad. It’s been really bad.”
He and other parents say buses have not been picking up or dropping off students on time, and they worry about whether the buses are safe to ride.
“The safety of them, and they keep breaking down,” the parent said. “There’s been multiple issues.”
In response to those concerns, Local 4 reached out to the Michigan State Police, the agency that inspects school buses.
State police provided a link to their latest report for the 2024-2025 school year.
It shows that five Allen Park Public Schools buses passed inspection, while seven failed.
In a follow-up email, State Police said the buses that initially failed were reinspected and passed during the last inspection cycle.
However, the agency also confirmed there are current issues with some buses inspected this year. Details of those issues will be included in the next school bus inspection report, which will be released after Sept. 1.
Local 4 also went to the district’s office seeking answers on whether any buses failed recent inspections and on the current status of the fleet.
A staff member spoke briefly over an intercom, and later the district provided a statement.
In response to the recent inquiry regarding pupil busing in the Allen Park Public Schools, our district has worked closely with our partners to ensure students continue to be transported safely and reliably.
We have taken steps to address necessary routine bus repairs and, in the meantime, have collaborated with trusted third-party transportation vendors to ensure routes remain fully staffed and operational with minimal interruption. Student safety remains our highest priority.
Allen Park Public Schools