How school buses are affected by the high cost of diesel : NPR

Key Points:

• School districts across the U.S. are struggling with sharply increased diesel prices, which have risen nearly $2 per gallon compared to last year, significantly impacting budgets as about 90% of the nation's 480,000 school buses run on diesel.
• In response, districts like Yakima in Washington have consolidated bus routes, staggered school start times, and increased bus occupancy to reduce fuel use and costs, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of dollars but creating longer routes and more demanding schedules for drivers.
• A national survey found that 40% of districts are consolidating routes and 20% are limiting non-essential trips, while some are exploring transitioning to non-diesel buses, though budget constraints remain a major challenge.
• Some districts, such as Boise, Idaho, are adding electric buses funded by federal programs to curb fuel expenses, but overall transportation costs continue to rise, with Boise seeing an increase of about $600,000 this year.
• School officials emphasize the need to balance budget cuts with maintaining classroom resources, with districts tapping reserves temporarily but facing ongoing financial pressure as fuel prices remain high.