Fuel supplies are back on track for the Hall County school system and field trips will resume Monday.

Due to diesel fuel shortages in the area, Hall County schools put a two week hold on all field trips last week. At the time, the school system was down to only a few days of fuel following gas shortages in the aftermath of a Gulf Coast hurricane.

Will Schofield, Hall County schools superintendent, said a couple more loads of gas were delivered to the school system’s fuel tanks this weekend. Barring another hurricane, Schofield said he is "cautiously optimistic" about the school system’s fuel supply.

"It appears to be getting better every day," he said. "We think by the end of this week we’ll be fully stocked and back to normal."

If possible, field trips that were cancelled during the two week period will be rescheduled.

Schofield also informed the Hall County school board Monday that a new Hall County schools partnership with Lanier Technical College is in sight. On Oct. 23, Schofield will join Lanier Technical College President Mike Moye in presenting plans to state grant providers in Atlanta as they vie against four other school partnerships for a $3.2 million grant.

The joint grant would augment Lanier Tech’s involvement at Hall County school system’s Lanier Career Academy by expanding the academy’s high school marketing program known as Hospitality High and its medical sciences program. The grant could also catalyze the creation of a "world class" culinary arts school at Lanier Career Academy that may include a commercial bistro.

Also, school officials are working out calendar details to comply with the Hall County Commission’s decision to furlough all county employees one day per month. School resource officers are the only Hall County government positions required to take furloughs that directly affect the school system’s daily operations.

Schofield said instead of taking one full day off each month, the board may consider asking resource officers to take off two hours each week. He said it is likely that the school system will adapt by ensuring a neighboring school’s resource officer will be on-call while an adjacent middle or high school resource officer takes time off.