KENT, Wash. – Many school districts are having to tap into their general funds to keep their school bus fleets gassed up.

"I have projected a $1.1 million in fuel for the next year," said Kent Schools Transportation Supervisor Dan Walkup.

That price is triple the amount Kent Public Schools paid just four years ago to refuel its 140 bus fleet. Times have changed and districts throughout the state are having serious discussions on how to juggle it all.

"We have to figure out how we're going to do that (transport kids) and not cut programs, but we know without transportation, they would not be able to do them," said Walkup.

The Federal Way School District has discussed cutting field trips and parents are now worried sports or after school programs will also take a hit.

"There could possibly be cuts to field trip activities to the aquarium to the zoo and stuff like that you know for kids they really appreciate stuff like that you know," said parent Erica Vanvliet.

Then, there is the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act. It's a federal program that allows students to be bussed to a specific school even if the child moves from place to place. This year, Kent schools spent close to $1 million to bus 500 children.

"That money comes from district funds that are earmarked or have to be moved from some other area," said Walkup.

There really is no solution for now. The only hope is that fuel prices will go down or other alternatives will be available. Just last month, Kent schools switched from biodiesel back to regular diesel because of high prices.