A Sumter County School District mechanic won first place in a statewide bus inspector competition last week.
The Sumter County School District proudly announced James Barnes, a dedicated mechanic in the district’s Transportation Department, 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, the annual competition brings together top talent from across the state to showcase their skills and knowledge in school bus inspection and safety. Barnes competed against representatives from several counties and emerged as the top performer in the state.
Hired in Dec. 2023, 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, Barnes also competed in the 2024 competition, where he placed third…