Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. In financial terms, how have rising gas and fuel prices impacted school districts?

2. Describe some conservation efforts that schools are attempting this winter?

3. How are students and parents responding to the conservation efforts?

4. How is the price of fuel impacting when schools schedule classes?

5. How is the rising cost of gas impacting the use of school buses?

6. How do schools plan to pay for the higher cost of heating schools?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What is the heating and fuel situation at your own school? What is your school or district doing in anticipation of higher fuel costs? How do you feel about the changes? What would you do differently?

2. According to the story, many of the increased fees will fall to local taxpayers. How else do rising heat costs impact the local economy? What should local leaders do to help solve this issue?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.