BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ever wonder why public schools are broke all the time?

It’s certainly not because they don’t receive enough money from state and federal sources.

It’s usually because of the wasteful manner they handle the resources at their disposal.

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Yet another example of this problem comes from the Jefferson County, Alabama, which has been spending an estimated $172,000 per year in unnecessary fuel costs because many school bus drivers are in the habit of taking their buses home at night, rather than parking them in designated areas.

Drivers are only supposed to take buses home if they live closer than designated parking areas, according to a report from AL.com.

“We could buy two school buses for the amount we’re paying in fuel costs to park these buses at their house,” Deputy Superintendent Yancy Morris was quoted as saying. “A school bus gets six miles per gallon, so we just can’t justify it.”

The local union president argued that the bus drivers “take care of these buses like they are their babies” and says she’s worried about theft or vandalism if they don’t take them home.

Does that mean the school district does not have a secure garage or yard where the buses are supposed to be parked at night? Is allowing the drivers to take the buses home really the safest option?

Just how safe are these buses that are parked in residential areas, out in the open, with no security around? And how certain can the district be that the buses are not being misused or abused at night or on the weekends?

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This sounds like a school district where expensive problems are just waiting to surface. School buses are big investments and district officials should be keeping close tabs on their use, care and maintenance.

The residents of the Jefferson County school district should start making a few phone calls, to learn more about how this district functions, why, and how much it all costs.