High gas prices aren't just hitting adult drivers. Local School districts are also coming up with creative ways to cut costs.

At Hearne Elementary, more cafeteria food is being made in-house. The school also moved from using paper trays, to plastic.

While the overall cost of food is up this year, the price schools pay for some foods, like milk, was locked down in August. However, next year's school budget may fill the squeeze. "Come this August when a new contract begins, I'm sure we'll see a big increase," said Ellen Johnson, the Hearne ISD Food Service Director.

Hearne and other schools say gas prices have cut into unnecessary field trips. When possible, boys and girls athletic teams are riding together, to away events.