Clearly we are in crisis.

Here’s how rising fuel prices affect an organization with a fleet of 1,273 school buses: The Montgomery County school board today will consider giving Superintendent Jerry D. Weast emergency powers to make students walk farther to school, if need be, in the coming academic year.

The school system’s diesel costs have more than doubled in four years, from $3.6 million in fiscal 2005 to a projected $7.9 million for fiscal 2009, which begins next month. It’s a hardship shared by the Fairfax County school system, with more than 1,500 buses; the Prince George’s County system, with 1,285 buses; and other area systems that transport tens of thousands of students daily and are paying more for fuel than the average parent at an Exxon pump on Rockville Pike. . . .

School officials generally think of fuel as a fixed cost. But it’s really not, Weast reminded board members June 10 in Rockville. Should prices continue to rise, the school system could save money by raising maximum walking distances for students, because more walkers means fewer buses. Currently, elementary school students walk up to a mile, middle school students 1.5 miles and high school students two miles.

Where I’m from the school doesn’t even run buses.  If you want to ride the bus you get a city bus schedule.

Regardless, that kids might have to walk 2 or 3 miles to school instead of just 1 or 1.5 hardly seems to be all that troubling.