Marquette Co. school districts spend over $3 million a year on transportation.

MARQUETTE COUNTY -- Busing students is one of the most expensive budget items for U.P. school districts.  So some districts are looking to save wherever possible.

A new study just released by the Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency, or MARESA, shows that while six districts in Marquette County are operating efficiently when it comes to transportation, there's always room for improvement.

The study included Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Powell Township, Gwinn, and Republic-Michigamme schools.

MARESA Superintendent Steve Peffers said the study recommends sharing management positions that oversee the efficiency of bus routes and schedules between districts.

"There exists throughout the county," explained Peffers, "a couple of places where individual districts overlap each other on some of their runs, picking up students."

Second, it's recommended the districts share purchasing parts and supplies.

"We currently have the group of transportation directors come together each year," Peffers said.  "They outline their needs for new buses throughout the coming year, and that goes out on one bid which is savings to everybody.  The same thing could be done for parts and supplies which would save the districts a little bit."

Also, the districts could combine their spare bus fleets and drivers.

Marquette Superintendent Jon Hartwig said the study's suggestions are helpful additions to what they're already doing to save money.

"We're reducing staff," he said.  "We have done so for a number of years as far as bus maintenance and relying on contracting services for some of the repairs that are more difficult to accomplish."

Before implementing any of the suggestions, Peffers said they'll research them further over the next school year.