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The Board of Education will consider a resolution to investigate the use of biodiesel fuel for its school buses tonight, at the last regular meeting before the board’s one month summer recess. 

Biodiesel fuel is made from vegetable oil and the recycled oil of deep fryers, like the kind McDonald’s uses for its French fries.  

Studies by the EPA have found that vehicles using biodiesel fuel emit up to 80 percent less pollution into the atmosphere than vehicles burning petroleum-based fuel. 

Berkeley’s 10 recycling trucks already run on 100 percent biodiesel fuel.  

School buses in Phoenix, Ariz., and Medford, N.J., have shifted to the fuel as well. 

The resolution on the school board’s agenda tonight calls for school district staff to report back to the board by October on the possible benefits of a shift to biodiesel fuel, and any financial implications. 

Also at tonight’s meeting, the board could vote to approve staff recommendations that call for a public hearing to be held in September to reexamine the district’s 2001-2002 budget.  

Citizen members of a board advisory committee are calling for the hearing, arguing that the district’s budget information was so disorganized in the days leading up to the budget’s passage that there may well be pools of money that were not properly accounted for. 

District staff argue in their recommendation to the board they will have all their final budget information in place by September, enabling them to give the board and the public a clear picture of any extra funds that may have become available.  

The hearing would give the public a chance to weigh in on how extra funds ought to be spent. 

A number of board members are on record saying they would move first to fund teaching positions cut from the high school this spring if funds become available. 

Other ideas floated by board members for where unexpected funds ought to be directed next year include: to increase the district’s custodial budget; to add one administrative position at Berkeley High; to restore two middle school safety officers who were terminated as part of this spring’s budget cuts; and to fund the creation of an Emergency Disaster Plan.