Many Vermont school districts and companies that bus students are looking for ways to save money on fuel in the upcoming school year.
Costs for diesel fuel are up about $1.60 a gallon from a year ago.
School districts are adjusting routes, forcing some students to walk longer distances to bus stops and paying for fuel with money that had been earmarked for other expenses.
Bob Magee of the Chittenden East Supervisory Union is hoping to pare 25,000 miles from the district’s bus routes. Last year the buses drove 455,000 miles.
The district is also cutting back on field trips and will purchase three new school buses this year instead of four, as officials had planned.