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Saturday, May 31, 2008

Diesel costs have schools seeking extra money

Diesel fuel prices are so high, raising costs for rural school systems that depend on buses, that West Virginia may need to have a special legislative session to give schools the money they need to pick up and deliver students when school begins in August. "North Carolina education officials have also asked for legislative help," The Associated Press reports. "Texas lawmakers have said they will re-evaluate their state's school funding system."

The state Department of Education asked Gov. Joe Manchin for $5 million this week, and he is considering a special session to appropriate the money. The schools got $63 million this year for transportation systems, $15 million of it for fuel, "but officials project they'll need at least $19.5 million," AP reports. "The $15 million was based on 2006 cost figures, but diesel fuel has increased $1.52 a gallon, to $4.38, just within the past year. Since 2003, school bus fuel costs have nearly tripled." (Read more)

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