Fuel costs drive bus company out of school contract

[phantom power]

The school system is planning to renegotiate at a price that accounts for the fuel costs.

A major bus company is walking away from a five-year contract with Nova Scotia's Acadian school board, blaming high fuel prices.

(...)

In 2006, a litre of diesel was 86 cents. It's about $1.30 now.

The bus company still has two years on its contract with the CSAP, but it's exercising an escape clause, citing financial distress.

"We would not be able to continue with the CSAP," said Spencer. "It would, in effect, bankrupt the company."

http://news.aol.ca/article/acadian-bus/266989/

[madrchsod]

1. this is going to happen a lot across the usa...

school systems are going to have to rethink busing students and go back to neighborhood schools

[Purveyor]

2. I'm hearing more reports of school expanding the school day and switching to 4 day weeks. eom

[Zachstar]

6. When I was in high school recently we were campaigning for a reduced week.

Sure most students liked the idea of more days off but people like me were truly worried about gas prices. And was when things were cheaper!

[RoseMead]

3. In the 70's, Wayne County cut out the mid-day bus

This was back when kindergartners went to school for half a day, some in the morning and some in the afternoon. A bus ran at noon to drop of the morning kids and pick up the afternoon kids. During the gas crisis, the county stopped the mid-day run, claiming it was to save gas. At a PTA meeting, someone asked how making all the parents drive to school every day, as opposed to running one bus, was saving gas. The parents were told that the plan was to save gas *for the county.* It was a money issue, not a conservation issue.

I'm expecting us to lose our school buses again this time, except there's no noon bus to cut now, so I guess it'll be the regular runs that go. I'm guessing it's just a matter of time now.

[kestrel91316]

4. I predict an eventual return to smaller and more local schools.

Sort of like the little one-room schoolhouses of the 1800s, but higher-tech with internet and indoor plumbing.

[jpak]

5. I had a discussion with a Maine town manager last night

He said the local school district is doing away with door-to-door school bus service.

They will change to a central pick-up/drop-off in town this Fall.

They simply cannot cope with diesel prices.