[IMAGE]128[/IMAGE] HOUSTON — The Texas Association of School Bus Technicians recently held its Annual Texas Best Technician Competition here at Spring Independent School District’s (ISD) transportation center. 

Sixteen technicians and 16 inspectors representing 14 school districts from across the state participated in the competition. The technicians were required to find defects on three buses. Each technician was given a scenario that was reported by the driver and it was each technician’s responsibility to find the problem and correct it. 

In each of the three buses, the technicians had 15 minutes to diagnose the problem.  They were judged on proper use of tools, using safety equipment and diagnosing the problem.

Technicians were also required to take a written exam, which consisted of 40 questions of problems technicians can encounter while working on a school bus. The written test was 50 percent of the final score; the problem solving on the buses was the remaining 50 percent.

For the inspection division of the competition, defects were created on three buses — one bus had defects inside, one had defects under the hood and the third had defects on the underside of the bus. Each inspector was given 15 minutes on each bus to find the defects. Safety equipment was required to be used while the inspection was performed.

Inspectors also had to complete a written test consisting of 50 questions. The exam was 40 percent of the total score and the inspection was 60 percent.

The technicians who won top honors at the Texas Best Technician Competition are:

• First Place — Scott Bettinger, Temple ISD
• Second Place — Josh Nordin, Frisco ISD
• Third Place — Terry Dickey, Santa Fe ISD 

The inspectors who won top honors are:

• First Place — Kevin Vollweiler, Frisco ISD
• Second Place — Bobby Williams, Spring ISD
• Third Place — Matthew Johnson, Taylor ISD 

These individuals will go on to participate in the America’s Best Competition in Jasper, Ind., in September.