J.R. works on removing the old wheels from the school bus and replacing each one with a fresh tire on Monday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

MARIETTA — It’s back to school season in the Mid-Ohio Valley and students are heading back to the classrooms.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol and Wood County Sheriff’s Office are asking drivers to share the roadway with school buses by following traffic safety laws.

Since 2020, a total of 6,225 crashes involving school buses have been reported in Ohio. Among those crashes were five fatalities with one being a student.

“While school buses are considered the safest mode of transportation for students, their safety depends heavily on every driver remaining vigilant while behind the wheel,” said Gov. Mike DeWine.

He recently signed a bill creating a new school bus safety grant program to help schools add safety features to buses.

J.R. brings out the new tires which are replaced every year, depending on what the Ohio State Highway Patrol personnel determines. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“There is nothing more important than our kids, and it’s our shared responsibility to keep them safe,” said DeWine.

It’s crucial for drivers to be familiar with the traffic laws and pay attention to road signs and school zones.

It’s not just about avoiding a ticket, but keeping the lives of students safe while they’re getting on and off the bus.

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said that there will be deputies stationed in school zone areas to make sure people are abiding by the laws.

“Pay attention to the school zone signs,” said Woodyard. “School zones are 15 mph when flashing and people need to familiarize themselves with these areas.”

The Marietta City School Districts’ school buses were undergoing routine maintenance and upkeep on Monday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

He said people have gotten used to driving through school zones during the summer when school isn’t in session, so it’s important to really pay attention when driving.

“It’s illegal to pass a bus when it’s stopped to let kids off and we’re working with school officials so that people will be cited on the spot if they don’t abide by this law,” said Woodyard.

To ensure that the buses are safe and ready for the school year, school districts are required by the Ohio State Highway Patrol to perform two annual bus inspections.

Marietta City Schools has been working on maintenance for its buses throughout the month of August to prepare for the first day of school Thursday.

For the past two years, J.R. has been tending to the maintenance of the school buses for the district. He said each bus takes about an hour and a half. He begins working on the vehicles weeks before the first day of school to ensure they’re ready for use.

J.R. finishes putting the new tire on the school bus on Monday. He spends roughly an hour and a half completing routine maintenance on the school buses. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“The tires last about a year and sometimes more, it just depends on what the inspector determines,” said J.R.

He cranks off each tire and replaces it with a fresh one and continues this process for roughly 20 buses.

The maintenance includes tire replacements, oil changes, and greasing up areas on the bus that require attention. He also works on fixing any tears in the interior seats.

Since 2020, Ohio State Highway Patrol personnel have performed about 195,000 inspections.

“The commitment our personnel put into inspecting each school bus is truly remarkable,” said Charles Jones, who is a Patrol superintendent. “Their attention to detail directly contributes to preventing crashes and ensuring students have a safe way to get to and from school and school-related events.”

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com.