Published: August 14, 2008 09:24 am            

A ticket to ride

County struggles with the cost of running buses

Diesel prices combined with almost no increase in state funding has school administrators keeping a close eye on fuel costs.

Locust Grove was forced to restructure bus routes in the spring to combat the rising cost to bus kids back and forth to school.

Superintendent Dave Cash said the school consolidated 21 bus routes into 16 last spring. Even with the consolidated routes, Locust Grove saw a $64,000 increase in fuel costs.

Cash said the school board is looking into compressed natural gas for buses through grants. Cash said the technology has improved, increasing the buses range to 200 miles. Although compressed natural gas is an option in the future, the school is left with finding solutions for the high cost of fuel in the 2008-2009 school year.

And Locust Grove isn’t alone.

Adair, Pryor, Chouteau and Salina reported an increase in fuel cost from the previous year.

Pryor Superintendent Donald Raleigh said he didn’t have the actual numbers, but the increase was substantial.

Chouteau Director of Transportation Dennis Stutzman said Chouteau saw a similar increase last year.

Salina Superintendent Vol Woods said Salina forked over $34,000 more last year to keep the buses on the road.

Adair’s cost increased approximately 30 percent, said Adair Superintendent Tom Linihan.

“There’s no additional money to cover fuel cost, electricity, food,” said Linihan. “We’re basically handed about the same and told ‘here you are, run your school.’”

At a cost of $4.05 per gallon, diesel prices will take an even larger chunk of school budgets this year.

“We’re hoping it’s (the increase) not any worse than last year,” said Woods.

Although no county school plans to follow Locust Grove’s suit and consolidate bus routes, school administrators are looking for ways to offset the cost.

“If cuts need to be made, we won’t look at bus routes,” said Raleigh. Pryor buses pick students up on nine routes.

Chouteau will keep the 12 bus routes they currently run. If cuts are made, Stutzman said it will likely be to field trips. Last year, Chouteau began evaluating how many buses they take to football and basketball games and made changes where necessary. Stutzman said Chouteau will continue taking a minimum number of buses to games.

Once students are picked up and administrators see where they are picked up, routes may be rearranged or altered.

“We’ll be keeping a very close eye on it,” said Stutzman.

Salina’s seven bus routes will be unaffected for now. Once students are picked up and a head count is made, the administration may re-evaluate where students will get on the bus. One option is to stop picking up kids who live inside the city limits. The Salina board will discuss the options and make changes if they deem necessary.

“It’s going to be a real tight year for us,” said Woods. “I’m more afraid of what next year’s going to be like.”

Woods said with no additional money coming from the state, schools may be forced to look at cutting staff next year, which makes up 80 percent of Salina’s budget. “The future doesn’t look good,” said Woods.

“We’re faced with some challenges,” said Linihan, adding the Adair board may look at requiring students to walk or get a ride within a two-mile radius of school.

“It’s hard for rural schools to consolidate routes,” said Linihan. “It puts so many hardships on the family.”

Adair could consider shortening the routes and requiring students to be on one road at a certain time. The problem with that option is when students are dropped off, some may be left in the country with no transportation and no way to get home.

“That’s not a good scenario,” said Linihan, who explained schools are not required by law to run buses.

Busing students to and from school is a privilege school districts extend to families in the area. But the idea to not run buses at all would kill school attendance, admits Linihan.

“Everybody is faced with these problems,” said Linihan.

Cash said Locust Grove may have to add an additional route depending on the number of students who choose to ride the bus. Cash said he won’t know until school begins, but he expects some students who were able to drive will be riding the bus because of fuel costs.

One area which will take a hit this year at all county schools is the number of field trips allowed for extracurricular activities.

“But you don’t want to cut students’ opportunities,” said Linihan.

Adair is reaching out to school sponsors for help and will have to be frugal, cutting where necessary. Outside funding will be sought to supplement the cost. Linihan said, “It’s going to be a challenging year, that’s for sure.”

Cash said Locust Grove will take two buses to basketball and football games instead of three.

“We’ll do that with everything,” said Cash. “Field trips will be very limited ... It’s too bad.

It’s a viable part of their education.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.