Bus routes Friday morning will be run as usual, but on Friday afternoon, drop-offs may be  at new locations.   This and other practices that will help keep down fuel consumption were the main topic at the kick-off meeting of the Decatur County Schools Transportation Department on Wednesday.

According to Transportation Director Farrell Lawrence, the unexpected rise in fuel caused the 2007 fuel budget to be exceeded by over $164,000.  The 2007-08 fuel budget was $300,000.

Decatur County buses traveled 1.38 million miles for the 2005 school year at a cost of $182,000.  Last year 1.05 million miles were driven and the cost of fuel jumped to $464,440 - an increase of over $280,000 over the 2 years.

With the average bus getting about 7 miles per gallon, if one mile could be cut each day by each 55 bus, a savings of over $5,600.

In an effort to stay within the allotted $505,000 budget for this school term, there will be some changes to bus stop locations.   Bus stops will be a little more centralized this year.

Centralizing bus stops may require students to walk a little further will help keep transportation costs down.   Students living down some lanes, streets and roads may be required to walk up to about 500 yards to meet their bus.

"The child's safety is our first priority, and fuel cost is second."  stated Lawrence.  "The new stop locations have been reviewed and deemed safe by the Transportation Department."

School Superintendent Ralph Jones stated other measures, such as route changes, will be looked at after the first week of school with bus drivers helping in that process.  Jones also stated that they are asking the drivers to use "best practices" including no extended warm-up times and for buses to be full for extra-curricular events.

All children attending Pre-K are required to have an adult present at the morning pick-ups and afternoon drop-offs.

The new route changes do not apply to Special Need routes.