How are school budgets affected?
Schools operate on tight, fixed budgets. The war is pushing up costs in three major areas:
Transportation (school buses)
- Diesel prices up 28% to $4.83/gallon
- The average school bus gets 6-7 miles per gallon
- A district running 100 buses could face $500,000+ in additional fuel costs per year
- Some districts may need to consolidate routes or reduce field trips
Cafeteria food
- School lunch programs already operate on thin margins
- Food costs up 3.1% and accelerating
- Fresh produce, meat, and dairy — cafeteria staples — are among the first to rise
- Federal reimbursement rates may not keep pace with rising costs
Energy bills
- Schools are large buildings with significant heating and cooling needs
- Natural gas and heating oil prices up 19-25%
- Spring cooling season approaching with higher electricity costs expected
How does this affect teachers personally?
Teachers on fixed salaries face the same cost-of-living squeeze as everyone:
- Gas to commute: Up 20% — a teacher driving 30 miles/day spends $30-50 more/month
- Groceries: Up 3.1% and accelerating for a family
- Housing: Mortgage rates back above 6%, rent gradually rising
- No mid-year raises: Most teacher contracts don’t adjust for inflation spikes
Classroom challenges
The war creates new challenges in the classroom:
- Student anxiety about the conflict, especially for children of military families
- Misinformation from social media that students bring into discussions
- Increased bullying risk for students of Middle Eastern or Iranian descent
- Curriculum pressure — how to teach current events responsibly
Resources for teachers:
- Teaching Tolerance (tolerance.org) — lesson plans for discussing conflict
- Newsela — age-appropriate current events articles
- PBS LearningMedia — free educational resources on the Middle East
- See our guide on talking to kids about the Iran war
What can school communities do?
- Advocate for emergency fuel funding from state education departments
- Support school meal programs — donations and volunteer help
- Be understanding of schedule changes (bus route consolidation, reduced field trips)
- Watch for fee increases — some districts may raise activity or transportation fees