Marion school boss asks state for fuel help

Marion County Schools Superintendent Mark Griffith this week asked area state lawmakers for help buying diesel for school buses as prices continue to climb.

“I don’t even know if it’s possible this year,” Mr. Griffith said.

Mr. Griffith met with state Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, and state Rep. Bill Harmon, D-Dunlap, Wednesday in Nashville to ask for help.

Three weeks ago, Rhea County commissioners and school board members met with state Sen. Tommy Kilby, D-Wartburg, and state Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, and discussed how the state could help that county pay for diesel.

During that meeting, commissioners and school board members were told little help could come because of lower-than-expected state revenues.

Mr. Griffith said Wednesday he expected the same response, but he still wanted to see if any help could come, especially from excess lottery funds. State law dictates the money be used for college scholarships, prekindergarten and K-12 school construction.

“I could better spend the money on fuel costs,” Mr. Griffith said.

He said another possibility would to ask state officials about tapping into the state’s reserve, or “rainy day,” fund.

Sen. Berke said Wednesday that lottery and rainy day money can be used only for purposes set out in state law. He said more money could come from the Basic Education Program, but the year has been tight and many programs could face cuts.

Sen. Berke said tapping the reserves is a bad idea because once it is gone, the state would have to borrow money.

“We need to look at the rainy day fund as a last resort given that it costs us money to dip into it,” he said.

Rhea County school board Chairman Bill Davault said Wednesday he had not heard anything else about getting help from the state for school busing.

“It’s just wait and see and hope we’ve got enough,” he said.