‘If prices go up, other things have to go down’

NUPS transportation unchanged by diesel prices for now

NEW ULM – According to MPR, diesel prices have reached a record high with Minnesota prices averaging $6.07 as of Monday.

Minnesota's average diesel price at the same time last year was nearly $2.50 cheaper.

With the start of the school year, more and more buses are back on the road taking students all around. From sporting events, field trips, pick ups, and drop offs, buses are constantly being filled with diesel.

At New Ulm Public Schools, Superintendent Sean Koster said that rising prices have not impacted transportation as of now.

"We have not made any changes [in response to] the rising prices of fuel in terms of transportation," Koster said.

Busing funds come from multiple sources, ranging from federal and state funds to special education operating funds.

The school's current contract with their busing company agrees on a fifty-fifty split per gallon up to $3.50 per gallon. Anything above $3.50 a gallon is picked up by the district.

Koster said that although there have been no changes to transportation yet, the rising cost of diesel has an impact on district funds.

"If [diesel prices] go up, other things have to go down," Koster said.

Rising costs across the country have been difficult for New Ulm Public Schools, which experienced a $1.98 million budget cut earlier in the year.

Despite rising prices and budget cuts, Koster emphasized the importance that field trips have on education.

Each building has designated budgets for field trips and every grade has standard trips that are done annually, including kindergarten.

"We really value hands-on learning outside of the classroom," Koster said. "Whether it's a historical sight or walking across to the wooded area (by the middle school), you can't say enough about what it does for kids and their learning."

Koster said that activities in the community reinforce the work students are doing inside the classroom.