Steadily rising gas prices across the nation aren't only hurting our wallets, they are also affecting schools. According to the budget, the Staunton School Board set aside a significant amount to cover fuel costs for the year.

However, if prices continue to rise, school officials say their funding will not be enough to cover the cost.

"Unfortunately, those prices are going through the roof, and we're going to be impacted just like your family and mine," says Charley Phibbs, Director of Finance.

He says the $100,000 set aside for diesel fuel could easily fall short.

"Right now, I would have to say that our budget projections are on the light side. So I'm guessing we're going to have an issue to deal with during fiscal '09 as we go on through the year," says Phibbs.

When they made their calculations, Phibbs says they considered how much money they've spent in past years, as well as what's happening in the global marketplace, though soaring fuel prices won't stop the buses from running.

"We have to continue to transport students to school on a daily basis," says Earl McCray, Director of Operations.

He says filling 27 school bus tanks is a tall order, especially when some hold as much as 50 gallons of diesel fuel. Plus, they run twice a day, and that's not including field trips during the school year.

McCray says, "We may have to look at some other avenues of energy savings throughout the building to transfer it into our fuel factor for transportation of students."

The $100,000 fuel budget allowed for an 18- to 20-percent increase in fuel costs, but the way things are going, they'll eventually have to rely on other resources.

Phibbs says, "Look at areas that might yield some savings. We're going to have to transfer additional funds into the fuel category. That would be my projection right now."

The school board passed the budget unanimously, approving the $100,000 set aside for diesel fuel. If fuel prices continue to rise like they have, the school says they will definitely have to revisit the budget.

Another major point in the budget is a 4-percent increase in salaries for Staunton City faculty and staff. The raise effects full-time and support staff and accounts for almost $100,000.

The budget also takes into account eight new full-time positions, including two teachers, two instructional aides and a school psychologist. The total cost of these new additions comes to $318,000.

The budget eliminates six positions, which include a speech pathologist, two special education teachers, and three special education aides.