Schools Evaluate Transportation Plans

Schools across Green Country keep a watchful eye on fuel prices. Although it's dropped recently, the price of diesel is still nearly $1.30 more per gallon than it was a year ago. That has many districts evaluating their transportation plans.

As News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports, in Sapulpa, all the school buses have been inspected and drivers are practicing their routes. Everything is ready to roll when school starts on Wednesday. Now Dan Thornton just hopes diesel prices keep falling.

"It's completely affected us because every one of our vehicles is diesel. So, we're always having to change our budget because of diesel costs and we move it up or move it down," said Dan Thornton with Sapulpa Schools.

Like many districts, it's getting more expensive for Sapulpa to transport the 1,800 students who ride the bus to and from school each day. The district's fuel costs have increased $40,000 over the past year, which is a 30% jump.

"We try to take care of our patrons but we also have to pay attention to our budget," said Thornton.

In addition to keeping a daily log of diesel prices, the district is eliminating the time buses spend idling. The district is also limiting bus service to some students.

"We really have not changed our one and a half mile radius. What we've done is kind of enforced it," said Thornton.

The district will continue to pick up special needs and Pre-K students. Thornton says part of the dilemma statewide is that the state doesn't fund any school transportation within a mile and a half radius, and reimburses districts as little as 8% for transportation outside that radius. With rising costs, it puts many districts in a bind.

"We're not only worried about this year, we're worried about the consequences for next year," said Thornton.

For now, as the school year begins, school workers hope there is an end in sight to high prices.

Sapulpa says it is looking into alternative fuels for its fleet of school buses, like bio-fuel and natural gas.

It's too expensive to retro-fit buses, but it may be possible to phase-in alternative fuel buses when the district has to buy new vehicles.