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Ga. Schools to Close Two Days to Save Gas

*News just a tad dated but definitely postworthy...

Ga. Schools to Close Two Days to Save Gas
Georgia's Public Schools to Close for First Two Days of Next Week to Conserve Fuel After Rita
By DICK PETTYS Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA Sep 24, 2005 — Most of Georgia's public schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday, taking two "early snow days," in an effort to conserve fuel in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Gov. Sonny Perdue asked for the closings on Friday, estimating that closing all of the state's schools would save about 250,000 gallons of diesel fuel by idling buses, plus an undetermined amount of gasoline by allowing teachers, staff members and some parents to stay home. Electricity also would be conserved by keeping the schools closed, he said.

"If Georgians stick together, work together and conserve together we can weather whatever problems Rita brings our way with the least possible inconvenience," Perdue said.

All but four of the state's 181 school districts said they would comply with the governor's request.

One of the four, Floyd County Schools, refused to join the effort because it already planned to close for a weeklong break starting next Friday. "Closing would give us two days of school next week," district spokesman Tim Hensley said.

As he did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Perdue also asked residents and ordered government agencies to limit nonessential travel and use commuting alternatives including telecommuting, car pooling and four-day work weeks.

If demand is reduced, he said, "we will have enough market power to hold prices down. All together, we can influence demand within our state."

Tim Callahan, spokesman for the 61,000-member Professional Association of Georgia Educators, said he worried that Perdue's announcement would prompt panic buying.

"I wonder if it's going to create the type of panic that we saw a few weeks back that drove prices over $3," said Callahan, referring to the long lines and record-high prices following Hurricane Katrina.

During the price escalation, Perdue and the legislature suspended the state's gas tax, saving motorists an estimated 15 cents per gallon. While several other states considered taking similar action, Georgia was the only one to suspend the tax.

The state's monthlong gas-tax holiday expires this Friday, but Perdue has ruled out extending that tax break because the state's $75 million gas-tax surplus has been drained.

AAA reported the state's average price for regular unleaded was $2.59 per gallon as of Wednesday, but increases of up to 28 cents per gallon were reported Friday.


LINK: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1155312