万花筒 2008-06-16&-06-17 高油价，校车司机也郁闷

They've got some new rules here at the bus barn, like when buses are just sitting here. Drivers cannot leave them running and the drivers can't take off too fast. Those are just two rules to help the district save money.

We caught up with bus drivers with their engines off, waiting for students to board. They cannot allow the buses to just idle anymore. It's considered a waste of gas.

-They’ll certainly be held accountable.

-Really?
-Absolutely.
-Accountable like what?

-We are serious disciplinary action.

Ottway Burkhalter says drivers will also be penalized¹ for taking off too fast or just going too fast.

-Gas prices are going up and we don't know where they are gonna end and it's taken a lot of money out of the educational process of the district, so we have to do we can to try to preserve fuel.

Tulsa schools anticipated a 350,000 dollar shortfall all because of gas, and next year could be worse, more parents might consider putting kids on big yellow, a ticket to save them money.

-It sounds like a good idea, but I haven't thought about it.
Annie Stark² says the bus is the only way for her daughter.
-We're both in two different places, so, it's difficult with the money, you know, gas prices, so, it’s difficult.

Right now, students may walk up to a-mile-and-a-half to catch their bus, but there have been hints that students may have to walk longer.

-We're looking at several different options yet and we are still studying 'em.
Right now, he and other supervisors³ are watching the buses and the drivers, making sure they are not burning too much gas.

So, if they are gonna make any changes to your child's bus route, you'll know by June 30th.That's the last day of the fiscal⁴ year and when the budgets come out.

 

In West Tulsa, Kim Jackson, News Channel Eight.

 

1 penalized   

对…予以惩罚( penalize的过去式和过去分词 )； 使处于不利地位

参考例句：

• You will be penalized for poor spelling. 你拼写不好将会受到处罚。
• Team members will be penalized for lateness. 队员迟到要受处罚。

2 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

3 supervisors   

n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
• Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句

4 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。