Alberta Education is rolling out an estimated $13 million fuel subsidy program this fall to help school boards deal with rising gas prices.
Department spokesperson Carolyn Stuparyk said all public school boards can access the program. The subsidy is triggered when the price of diesel exceeds 60 cents a litre.
It’s similar to the fuel subsidy program that was scrapped in 2009 when gas prices dropped.
School boards have advocated for a reinstatement of the fuel subsidy for months. When Education Minister Dave Hancock was in Red Deer in June for a meeting, Hancock said he would look into reinstating the subsidy.
At least three rural school divisions in Central Alberta have tightened their transportation budgets by cutting bus routes, amalgamating others and extending the life of buses because of the escalating price of gas and funding that leaves little room to manoeuvre.
Wolf Creek School Division chairwoman Trudy Bratland said the fuel subsidy will help those districts that transport rural students over large jurisdictions.
In its 2011-2012 budget, Wolf Creek was forced to cut five bus routes in order to mitigate a $419,000 deficit in transporation. This was due to a combination of decreased enrolment and the rising costs of transportation.
“It will certainly help our transportation department,” said Bratland. “We might make an adjustment to it but I don’t know we will make a huge impact but it will just put money back into where it should be. It will have an impact on the school division. It’s found money but it’s also money almost already that has been spent.”
Wolf Creek has schools in Blackfalds, Ponoka, Lacombe, Rimbey and Bentley.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com