The Department of Education says an investigation is underway after Service NL Highway Enforcement Officers pulled a school bus out of service while responding to a complaint on Thursday.

The department says school buses are held to what it calls “an extremely high standard and are subject to rigorous inspection requirements.” The school district confirmed last week that one bus, servicing Beachy Cove Elementary in Portugal Cove, was taken out of operation Thursday and was unable to bring students home as a result of an on-site inspection by Service NL.

The department says contractors are required to submit proof of inspection to Motor Registration for each of their buses twice a year, and all buses are subject to unannounced, mandatory inspections by Highway Enforcement officers.

A list of school buses taken out of service up to May of this year can be found online.