Up North Progressive

On September 12, 2016 Bay City Academy’s Facebook page jubilantly proclaimed they now own a school bus:

We officially have a bus! Mr. Bennett, our BCA bus driver is ready to safely transport students to and from school. We are so excited!

The flyer containing the rules, list of hubs (mostly the parking lots of busy shopping centers) where students can be picked up and dropped off, as well as monthly fees required to ride shows a shiny new yellow school bus in the upper right hand corner of the page. This is a photo of the actual bus BCA students will have the privilege to pay $20 a month to ride:

Most states require school districts to replace older buses after 12 to 15 years of use and for good reason: School buses take a real beating over the years and become unsafe to operate and ride. School districts purchase new buses to replace old ones, and hang on to the old buses for another year or two as reserve fleet until they are too old to even be used for that; then they are sold to whoever wants a bus. The bus in the picture is clearly a retired reserve bus that the school district unloaded at an auto auction or sale, and Bay City Academy purchased on the cheap.

BCA parents, a word of advice. Make sure the school provides documentation that this bus has gone through a thorough safety inspection before paying Brian Lynch to put your precious cargo on it and drive them to school. It may also be why BCA is holding walk to school events – an incentive to keep your kids safe on their way to school.