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State paying extra for school transportation By Ryan Mignone Ron Love is well aware of the incessant hike in fuel prices. As the state supervisor of school transportation, he monitors the pumps everyday to make sure school districts are adequately compensated for fuel consumption. With roughly 1,700 buses operating throughout the state for the public school system, each generates only 6.7 miles of fuel per gallon, holding 60 gallons. For fiscal year 2008, the state budgeted $8.4 million for fuel consumption of its school buses but with the unexpected increases, another $1.3 million has already been added to the fund. Original calculations had a gallon of diesel fuel at $2.96 per gallon but that has since skyrocketed. As required by law, Love can adjust the surcharge each month between December and April if the annual average price of fuel increases five cents. Changes may only be made between this period to establish a reasonable average, and in the past altercations were made just twice a year. In December, Love increased the figure 38 cents. “That’s significant,” he said, “and that’s one of the largest adjustments we’ve had in my 12 years here.” He said when they compensate for those changes, they pay each district the annual average rate for a gallon of diesel fuel, which currently stands at $3.43. Although that doesn’t reflect the rate most people see at the gas station, which hovers around $4, he said back in September and October, diesel fuel cost $2.79 a gallon in Kent and Sussex counties. [School districts] are adequately compensated for the prices regarding fuel,” he said. “It’s worked very well for districts and [its] contractors.” Bruce Ashby, supervisor of transportation for the Capital School District, said the district runs about 80 buses to transport children. They have contracts with eight bus companies and the district owns 10 buses of its own. Ashby said he keeps in contact with Love to make the necessary changes to fuel accounts.
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