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Sumter County School District Mechanic Wins First Place in Statewide Bus Inspector Competition

Posted Date: 7/01/25 (6:49 PM)
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Sumter County School District Mechanic Wins 1st Place in Statewide Bus Inspector Competition
 
Mr. Brown receiving the 1st place award.
 
The Sumter County School District is proud to announce that James Barnes, a dedicated mechanic in the district’s Transportation Department, has earned first place in the prestigious Florida’s Best Bus Inspector Competition, held last week in Osceola County.
 
Organized by the Florida Association for Pupil Transportation (F.A.P.T.), the annual competition brings together top talent from across the state to showcase their skills and knowledge in school bus inspection and safety. Mr. Barnes competed against representatives from several counties and emerged as the top performer in the state.
 
Hired in December 2023, Mr. Barnes was trained and certified as a bus inspector under the guidance of Transportation Coordinator Jason Mendoza. In just a year and a half, his dedication and expertise have brought home the top honor. Notably, Mr. Barnes also competed in the 2024 competition, where he placed third.
 
“This is a proud moment for our district,” said Mendoza. “James has shown exceptional commitment to safety and excellence. His growth and success reflect the high standards we uphold in Sumter County.”
 
This victory marks another milestone for the district, which has consistently performed well in the competition, earning first place in 2023, third place in 2024, and now first place again in 2025.
 
The Sumter County School District congratulates Mr. Barnes on this outstanding achievement and thanks him for his continued dedication to student safety and transportation excellence.
 
 
Mr. Barnes during the state school bus inspector competition.
Mr. Barnes taking the state school bus inspector test.