School districts across Northern California say soaring diesel prices are now putting new pressure on transportation budgets and daily operations.According to AAA, California’s average diesel price now sits at $7.49 per gallon, up $2.52 from this time last year. Regular gasoline prices have also climbed, averaging $6.16 statewide.District leaders tell KCRA 3 those rising costs are forcing them to shift money around budgets to keep buses running.”We normally have to budget even for our bus attendants to assist with our special needs students. And so it’s completely cut us from choosing and deciding, “How many can we pull this month for paying for outside sources for our bus attendants?” to transitioning into “Where are we cutting the cost of fuel?” Lodi Unified Director of Transportation, Monique Fraticelli, told KCRA.Fraticelli says the district was paying about $4.37 per gallon for diesel before the war began, to more than $6.40 by May. Meanwhile, some districts say electric school buses are helping reduce the impact of high diesel prices.At Natomas Unified School District, officials say five electric buses are helping save an estimated $50,000 to $60,000 annually in fuel costs. The district says those buses were purchased largely through grant funding. However, 29 buses consume diesel.”It’s been rough. It’s been rough. We’ve had to amend our fuel budget this year a little bit because of the rising costs,” Natomas Unified Director of Transportation Ralph Meza said.And at Stockton Unified School District, leaders say the district now has 65 electric buses and plans to become fully electric by the next school year. “When you’re looking at the cost of diesel, the cost of gas, we are ahead of the curve,” said Melinda Meza with Stockton Unified School District. “We want to save money. We want to give put that money towards our students and our students learning.” See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
School districts across Northern California say soaring diesel prices are now putting new pressure on transportation budgets and daily operations.
According to AAA, California’s average diesel price now sits at $7.49 per gallon, up $2.52 from this time last year. Regular gasoline prices have also climbed, averaging $6.16 statewide.
District leaders tell KCRA 3 those rising costs are forcing them to shift money around budgets to keep buses running.
“We normally have to budget even for our bus attendants to assist with our special needs students. And so it’s completely cut us from choosing and deciding, “How many can we pull this month for paying for outside sources for our bus attendants?” to transitioning into “Where are we cutting the cost of fuel?” Lodi Unified Director of Transportation, Monique Fraticelli, told KCRA.
Fraticelli says the district was paying about $4.37 per gallon for diesel before the war began, to more than $6.40 by May.
Meanwhile, some districts say electric school buses are helping reduce the impact of high diesel prices.
At Natomas Unified School District, officials say five electric buses are helping save an estimated $50,000 to $60,000 annually in fuel costs. The district says those buses were purchased largely through grant funding. However, 29 buses consume diesel.
“It’s been rough. It’s been rough. We’ve had to amend our fuel budget this year a little bit because of the rising costs,” Natomas Unified Director of Transportation Ralph Meza said.
And at Stockton Unified School District, leaders say the district now has 65 electric buses and plans to become fully electric by the next school year.
“When you’re looking at the cost of diesel, the cost of gas, we are ahead of the curve,” said Melinda Meza with Stockton Unified School District. “We want to save money. We want to give put that money towards our students and our students learning.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel