Rising fuel costs crimp Utah schools
Some districts are trimming bus routes and raising fees to cope
School districts nationwide are looking at ways to save money in fuel costs. Most school districts along the Wasatch Front made some room in their budget for increasing fuel prices. But some school officials say it is still not enough to cover costs and are looking to make cuts elsewhere.
"This has caused an incredible crunch," said Brent Huffman, transportation specialist for the State Office of Education. "Business officials at the school districts this year are making transportation costs their number one issue to deal with — this is absolutely the worst year."
He said statewide fuel increases have stretched transportation budgets beyond breaking — the biggest districts being the hardest hit.
"We requested a $3 million increase in funding to cover fuel last session from the Legislature," said Huffman. "It was approved by the state board, approved by the governor and it was ignored by the Legislature."
Jordan budgeted for a 20 percent increase in transportation costs this year, and leaders say they will be making no savings moves like other districts. Salt Lake will be looking into money-saving options as the year progresses.
Granite is making the most changes to save money. Aside from boosting transportation costs for activities, it has have trimmed bus routes for a $200,000 savings.
The state mandates that transportation be provided to elementary students living 1.5 miles or more from a school and to secondary students living 2 miles or more away.
So some routes that haul students within those parameters were trimmed.
"That causes chagrin for some parents," transportation director Tom Given said. "They say, 'Why doesn't our bus come into our subdivision anymore?' but the truth is we can't afford to."
Granite is also resetting routes to be more efficient. Routes have been rearranged so that drivers' schedules are together in the same areas. Officials also put drivers on routes near their homes and don't require them to drive the extra miles back to base but instead let them park the buses at their homes.
Huffman said the state sent a directive to all of the school districts with suggestions of how to save money through operations: reducing idling time, turning the buses off when they get to school, careful acceleration and braking and not driving buses back to their bases.
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