SPOKANE, Wash. — Rising fuel costs are forcing local school districts to make tough choices as crude oil prices climb and experts warn high prices will continue until the war with Iran ends.
Crude oil is forecast to average $130 a barrel next quarter and could balloon to $150. According to AAA, diesel now costs $6.77 per gallon in Washington and $5.57 in Idaho.
The rising costs hit school districts especially hard since school buses run on diesel. Freeman School District Superintendent Randy Russell said the increases limit how much fuel districts can buy at once.
“When you’re having to pay these huge, gas price increases, you’re just not able to deliver as many gallons of fuel to each time,” Russell said.
Freeman is trying to save money on fuel any way possible, including watching how long buses idle.
Sports teams now share buses to away games because fuel prices account for more of the district’s transportation budget.
Central Valley School District is diverting already limited levy dollars to fuel and away from replacing an aging fleet of school buses.
The problem extends beyond fuel costs. Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard said inflation is pushing up prices on nearly everything districts need.
“Chicken nuggets cost more. Crayons cost more. Paper cost more. These are the essential services,” Swinyard said.
Data from Spokane Public Schools show operating costs across the district have increased 25 to 47 percent over the last four years. Swinyard said state funding has not kept up with inflation.
“That work is getting harder and harder as we’re being asked to do more with less,” Swinyard said. “Obviously, there’s been some global events that have contributed to that. And our kids are caught in the fray.”
Spokane Public Schools is acquiring its own fleet of school buses for the 2027-28 school year to help manage costs.
“We’re projecting that it will save us about $1 million a year while being able to increase some service levels in some really key areas,” Swinyard said.
If fuel prices don’t drop soon, districts like Freeman face difficult decisions ahead.
“There just may be a lot more kids on a bus than people have seen in the past,” Russell said.
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