The Newton School District received a $189,000 gas bill–an amount officials say is approximately 6 times higher than what it normally sees.
The bills include nearly $159,000 from Newton and $30,000 from Walton, which is the home of the Walton Rural Life Center charter elementary school in the Newton district.
As a result of these higher-than-normal gas bills, the district announced that an attorney representing Kansas school districts is currently investigating the possibility of price-gouging following February’s cold snap.
The Kansas Joint Utilities Management Program, or KJUMP, through the Kansas Association of School Boards is leading the investigation. KJUMP’s attorney has been representing several school districts that have reportedly been experiencing similar problems with astronomically increased gas bills.
Newton district leaders were advised not to pay the bill in its entirety until the investigation concludes.
