Overlooked sports issue.

Your package of stories about interscholastic athletics (June 2006) was thorough and enlightening. However, one issue that wasn't addressed in discussing the escalating cost of athletic programs nationwide is that of transportation expenses.

In our transportation consulting work with school districts, we often point our clients to a hidden cost: the tendency of athletic directors to schedule buses for athletic events during the peak hours immediately after school. This requires the use of more buses and more drivers compared to trips scheduled during off-peak hours after most students have been transported home from school.

We commonly see school district transportation departments charge the athletic departments a flat-rate fee for each bus. In these instances, we typically recommend transportation directors set up higher rates during peak times. This provides an incentive to athletic officials to schedule interscholastic sports events at alternative times whenever possible.

Such a system reflects the true cost of scheduling buses and encourages savings without involving the transportation department in decision making on athletic event scheduling.

KYLE MARTIN

Vice President, TransPar Group, Lee's Summit, Mo.