Posted on 09/23/2005 6:19:20 PM PDT by WestTexasWend
(Atlanta, Georgia-AP) - Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue Friday asked the state's schools to take two "early snow days" and cancel classes Monday and Tuesday to help conserve gasoline as Hurricane Rita threatens the nation's fuel supply line.
If all of Georgia's schools close, the governor estimated about 250,000 gallons of diesel fuel would be saved each day by keeping buses off the road.
Perdue also said an undetermined amount of regular gasoline also would be saved by allowing teachers, other school staff and some parents to stay home. He says electricity also would be conserved by keeping the schools closed.
It's up to each school superintendent to decide whether to call off classes. The governor said, "If Georgians stick together, work together and conserve together we can weather whatever problems Rita brings our way with the least possible inconvenience."
As he did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Perdue asked the state's residents, and ordered government agencies, to limit nonessential travel and use commute alternatives including telecommuting, car pooling and four-day work weeks. He said if demand is reduced, "we will have enough market power to hold prices down. All together, we can influence demand within our state."
As prices spiraled after Hurricane Katrina, Perdue suspended the state's gas tax and the Legislature quickly approved the measure in a special session, saving motorists an estimated 15 cents per gallon. The tax is scheduled to return a week from Saturday.
All but four of the state's 181 school districts announced plans to comply with the governor's request. The exceptions were the Floyd County, Haralson County, Rome city and Thomasville city districts.
The governor made his request during a Friday afternoon conference call with the state's school superintendents. Many administrators were surprised and left scrambling to notify staff, faculty and parents of the cancellations because some schools had already finished classes for the day.
Why not do it every day? Think of how much we'll save.
Yeah it's not like the public skool kids are learning anything anyway.
His heart is in the right place.
"Yeah it's not like the public skool kids are learning anything anyway."
As usual, blah, blah, blah. Need to check your spelling.
Wow! What a superfluous idea! Two days of NOT indoctrinating children? Never happen.
Yes, he/she/it DID misspell it. Should be "publik skool".
Snow days...Georgia??? Please..
Or should I say, "It/she/he", for it might be more "gender" (aka sexually) neutral. Don't want to offend anyone out there. I might be accused of a hate crime.
Or should I say, "It/she/he", for it might be more "gender" (aka sexually) neutral. Don't want to offend anyone out there. I might be accused of a hate crime.
I believe Bouchart was being sarcastic, and I happen to agree with Bouchart.
Why are YOU so defensive, 'PRAY' tell? (pun intended)
Hate the private schools do we?
Have much evidence available to dispute their effectiveness?
Just wondering...
That's a real knee slapper! Georgia actually has planned SNOW days??????
Save more fuel for the hospitals, fire trucks, etc. He better check with the gov to make sure he doesn't lose his 'daily money' from the state.
I stand corrected.
It will snow here in Augusta, maybe once every three years. The snow/ice on the roads cleans out the supermarkets and sends the locals into a panic.
Don't you recall seeing those funny CNN videos of cars and buses sliding down hills?
I think it was deliberately misspelled for comic effect.
Yes, it does snow in Georgia. It is not unusual for Atlanta to get snow, but most of the snow is in the mountainous area of Northwest Ga.
This paragraph is meant for those who condemn all public education. I agree there is a lot to be desired in public education, but there are some dedicated teachers in public ed. Our youngest daughter is a dedicated teacher who loves teaching and has a gift for making learning interesting for children. She has been asked by parents to 'loop' so their children can be in her class again the next year. I know that sounds like I'm bragging, but like Dizzy Dean said, "It ain't braggin' if you done it"...and she has earned the recognition.
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