Published: August 19, 2008 11:54 pm            

Diesel costs put strain on schools’ budgets

Fee increases for athletic and field trips will offset costs

Some Kokomo-area school corporations are asking for more money for fuel this school year — either from the state or from parents — as diesel fuel costs continue to increase.

Kokomo-Center, Northwestern, Southeastern and North Miami schools all have reported asking for additional money from the state for their transportation operation funds for 2009, to cover increased fuel costs.

Other schools, including Taylor, Southeastern and Western, are increasing fees for athletic trips or field trips, to offset rising costs.

None are doing what The Associated Press reported schools in California, Washington, Idaho and Maryland are doing, either eliminating busing or consolidating bus stops, canceling field trips and forcing students to walk longer distances to school in order to control costs.

Very few Kokomo-area schools have students walk to school. Kokomo-Center has students who walk, and Taylor has a small number of children in Indian Heights who walk to Taylor Primary School.

David Barnes, Kokomo-Center Schools public relations consultant, said no changes are planned during the 2008-09 school year. He said administrators are waiting until schools consolidate before planning new bus routes.

However, Kokomo will ask the state for an additional $250,000 for fuel in its transportation operating fund.

Southeastern School Corp. Superintendent John Bevan anticipates asking the state for about $75,000 to $100,000 in additional money for fuel.

“I do not have high expectations, but we have no choice but to try. We know right now that our fuel costs have already gone up by more than $50,000 since this time a year ago,” Bevan said.

He said school planners are trying to streamline routes to eliminate unnecessary mileage, and are requiring the athletic department to pay for bus drivers for all athletic trips and combine groups to reduce number of trips.

Bevan said Southeastern will not charge for field trips, because of the educational importance of them, but “as costs increase, all possibilities are being considered.”

Taylor Community Schools is not changing bus routes, but increased the charge for field trips and athletic trips from 50 cents to $1 per person, to pay for fuel.

Superintendent John Magers does not anticipate asking the state for additional fuel money.

“I think we’re going to come in under budget. Not by a whole lot, but it will be close.”

The Western School Board voted in May to increase to cost of transportation for school groups or outside groups using school vehicles by 15 cents per mile.

Taffy Cooke, director of transportation and operations, said Western officials also decided that buses will not routinely drive into courts to pick up students, and some bus stops were combined. Parents were sent a letter about the changes about a week before school started, she said.

“It might mean their children will have to walk a little further than they’re used to to get to a stop,” Cooke said.

She said there will be an additional appropriation in the general fund to offset fuel costs in 2009.

North Miami Superintendent Brent Kaufman said the corporation eliminated one bus route during the summer due to lower enrollment. He said the savings will be in labor costs, rather than fuel.

He said for the last three years, school extracurricular funds have been used to pay for class trips.

He anticipates asking for more money for fuel in 2009.

At Eastern Howard Schools, Superintendent Tracy Caddell does not anticipate any changes in transportation, but said he will monitor costs.

“As we monitor our budget, that could change, but we want to continue to offer current services.”

Danielle Rush may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com

        

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