Both the Gasconade County R-1 and R-2 school districts received 90-plus percent inspection ratings on their respective bus fleets, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s report released Monday.

Col. Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reports MSHP inspectors worked with school district transportation staff across the state to examine more than 11,000 buses with 10,239 of those rated as “approved” on their initial inspection.

There were 849 buses where a “defective” rating was given upon the initial inspection during the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division’s 2026 annual school bus inspection program. Buses with identified defective components require repair within 10 days.

MSHP inspectors also took 283 units “out of service” following their initial inspection. Buses placed out-of-service require correction of the component(s), re-inspection, and a return to service authorization by Patrol personnel prior to further usage in transporting passengers, according to the report by Turner.

Of the 21 buses operated by the R-1 School District in Hermann, 90.4 percent were approved, one unit (4.8 percent) was found defective and one bus (4.8 percent) was taken out of service.

In Owensville, the Gasconade R-2 School District’s fleet of 39 buses received a 97.4-percent approval rating with one unit (2.8 percent) found with a defect.

That approval rating qualifies the R-2 fleet as one of 287 Missouri school districts earning the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence Award for 2026. During the 2025-26 school year, 6,148 buses in the award-winning fleets are eligible to display the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger entry side of the bus.

“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,” said Turner 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.”

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