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School system considers lowering activity bus rate
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Published: September 27, 2009
CONCORD — The Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education is considering lowering the cost for transporting sports teams.
The school system recently lowered the cost from $1.90 per mile to $1.56 per mile.
Board member Tim Furr proposed the rate be lowered to about 93 cents, which would take out the money used for bus replacement and transportation department salaries, since he said they should already be paid for by other funds.
The rate is charged by the school system to individual schools. Furr said the savings would help schools take care of renovations and other needed costs.
Board Vice Chairman Wayne Williams agreed that it should be reduced.
"I think 92 and a half or 93 cents would be adequate, because these are our schools and our students, and we should be able to pick up the slack that needs to be picked up," Williams said.
The rate had been at $1.90 because of the high cost of fuel last year, said Jim Amendum, assistant superintendent for the school system.
"When fuel started to decrease, schools asked (us) to lower the rate," Amendum said.
Amendum had advised waiting to reduce the rate, because of the unstable economy. After the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction gave its annual report on the price of running buses, the school system lowered the rate.
Board members Carolyn Carpenter and Andrea Palo expressed concern over the fuel prices rising again and putting the school system in a difficult situation financially.
Amendum said the rate would be adjusted if fuel prices rise dramatically but said he was concerned about being conservative with the budget.
Board member Cindy Fertenbaugh suggested charging the reduced rate for traveling locally and the $1.56 rate for teams that travel farther.
"If you choose to go farther, you are going to put more wear and tear on the bus," Fertenbaugh said.
The board will discuss this again at its Oct. 5 meeting at the Education Center.
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