After-School Programs To Begin Monday

After being put on hold because of the recent fuel shortage in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Richland One’s after-school tutorial programs will begin next week.

School districts across the state and throughout the Southeast have been impacted by the limited supply and delivery of diesel fuel created when the hurricane shut down pipelines in the Gulf Coast region.

Richland One’s after-school tutorial programs were scheduled to begin Sept. 6 but were postponed in an effort to conserve fuel. The State Department of Education, which supplies fuel to local school districts, had asked districts to enact fuel-conservation measures.

"Because we now have an adequate supply of diesel fuel for our buses through our own supplier, we will be able to start our after-school programs on Monday, Sept. 19," said Richland One Superintendent Allen Coles.

Richland One offers after-school tutorial programs for students who need additional academic assistance. The district uses 75-80 buses to transport the 4,000-plus students who participate in the after-school programs.

The district has not lifted its moratorium on bus transportation for field trips.