Gas prices force school buses to change schedules

High gas prices put many school transportation budgets in the red last year.

The unexpected rise of gas prices left many schools calling on emergency funding just to pay the bill.

This school year many districts are making changes so it doesn't get that far again.

Schools like Mohonasen are consolidating their bus routes so they're busses make fewer stops which will save on gas.

Mohonasen transportation supervisor Randy Jerreld says teamwork is the one way many schools will survive the rising costs "one district takes a kid to school, another district take him/her back."

*******WEB ONLY INFORMATION********

Averill Park tells CBS 6 that transportation for athletic games will be reduced. A source inside the district saying "we usually can do six events per day. now that's being cut back to four"  Other schools are already limiting the trips they take for pre-season and scrimmage games.

**********************************************

"field trips" says Jerreld. "we're telling schools you can only do one and if you do one, try to make it close"

Many schools fear this will affect education in some respects, one school Superintendent saying " it's those extra curricular activities and those field trips and games that really teach a child. That might be lost now but we have to do it because the only other place to cut is the bus ride to school and we can't do that.

Posted below is the actual script from Tuesdays 6pm newscast so you can follow along with the video to the right.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OVER AT THE MOHONASEN SCHOOL BUS DEPOT..

SUPERVISOR RANDY JERRELD IS MAKING THE ROUNDS..

MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS GOOD TO GO FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR..

KNOWING HIGH GAS PRICES IS FORCING A LOT OF CHANGES INSIDE..

AND OUTSIDE THE SHOP..

JERRELD: high cost, we're afraid of where it's going to go, don't know what will happen next

TO PREVENT THE WORST FROM HAPPENING NEXT....

SCHOOL'S ARE CHANGING THE WAY THEY RUN THEIR BUSSES THIS YEAR..

SOME COMBINING ROUTES TO PUT MORE KIDS ON THE BUS..

OTHER DISTRICTS WORKING TOGETHER..

JERRELD: one district takes a kid to school, other district takes him back. save on our costs

THIS YEAR CBS SIX FINDS OUT ANY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES NEEDING A BUS WILL BE AFFECTED..

JERRELD: field trips, tell schools have one field trip instead of two, save on costs..

SIMONS: many school leaders are encouraging students (NATS) to ride the bus..

they figure that helps two fold..

one- more kids on the bus, more worthwhile the trip is..

two- save parents or the students themselves on fuel costs

ADD TO THAT...

SOME OF THE BUSSES WILL NOW RUN ON ON GASOLINE INSTEAD OF THE MORE EXPENSIVE DIESEL..

SIMONS: In essense, are gas prices affecting education..

JERRELD: i would say so, education field trips cut back for the kids..

BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE..

LAST YEAR BUS FUEL COSTS AT SOME SCHOOLS WERE 30% HIGHER THAN BUDGETED FOR....

RANDY SIMONS CBS SIX NEWS..