Rising diesel prices put pressure on St. Paul school bus budget

“School districts need to make adjustments on the fly,” said Ben Harri, Director of Transportation with St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS). He says districts have been doing that as diesel fuel prices keep rising. But what specific adjustments has SPPS made so far? “Overtime, staffing hours, we are always looking at that potentially,” said Harri. “You know, buying fewer buses.” RELATED: St. Paul schools may cut staff midyear after enrollment drop At $130,000 a piece, he hopes putting off the planned purchase of one school bus will save the district enough to cover the increased cost, assuming the price stops rising. SPPS had avoided the surge for a while because it contracts out most of its bussing, covering only 29 out of 344 routes itself. But when the wholesale price of diesel topped $4.75 a gallon, the district suddenly owed a surcharge for the extra. “We can t ask for additional money right in the middle of the year, and that s not something we re going to do,