Late opening of schools saved money

The district's July-September utility costs are down by about $500,000.

By Andrea Eger
Tulsa World, November 17, 2002 

Tulsa Public Schools saved nearly $500,000 by delaying the start of school until after Labor Day, the districts latest utility bills show.

Electricity costs were down $465,000 and gas was down $4,300 during the July to September period compared with the same time period in previous years, said Executive Director of Bond Projects Bob La Bass.Budget slashing prompted the district to push back the start of the 2002-03 academic year from Aug. 19 to Sept. 3.

At the time, district administrators said they hoped the move would net the district $200,000 in utility cost savings.
"This is very good. I think the idea worked," La Bass said.
Further analysis of the utility cost data will be conducted to include comparisons of this year's late-August temperatures with normal temperatures for the period, he said.

If the summer was milder than normal, even more savings could be possible by keeping schools closed in late August, La Bass said.

Tulsa Public Schools has also mandated utility conservation in facilities district-wide, which could also save money.
At Park Elementary School, Principal Cindi Hemm said the mandated 78-degree indoor temperature during air-conditioned months and 68-degree temperature duing heated months has been livable.

"The children all know what we're doing. On cold days we're all wearing our sweaters, but nobody has complained because everyone understands how tight the budget is," Hemm said.

Utility cost savings in August at Park alone amounted to about $2,000, she said.

"We were able to conserve so much because of the delay for the school start. We shut down all the lights and air conditioning," Hemm said. "I would be surprised if other districts . . . don't try this next year because it worked so well here.