Those school buses don't run on air, you know:
In an informal survey of school business managers by the Association of School Business Officials International, 62 percent said rising fuel prices were hurting their districts. The business officers have varied strategies to keep budgets in line: ordering more central pickups of students, expanding conservation, experimenting with other fuels."I think everybody, first and foremost, is trying to find ways to buy cheaper gas," said Michael Martin, executive director of the National Association for Pupil Transportation. Most buses use diesel fuel, which has jumped about a dollar a gallon since last year. School districts now pay an average of $2.25 to $2.40 a gallon.
To offset the costs, districts are stripping money from classrooms, trimming bus routes, cutting field trips, and raiding cash reserves. Some are considering charging fees for bus service or asking children to walk longer distances to school.
Why not let private companies take over? Only 2 trips a day means they can lower the cost to each rider, and they can probably afford security for each bus so that students can ride in peace. Students could pay a pittance for bus fare just like they pay a pittance for school lunches now. I don't know if there are any companies out there that would already have the infrastructure for this, but it's a thought.
Posted by kswygert at August 24, 2005 10:53 AM