
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 30, 1995                   TAG: 9501300009
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOLS MAY PUT CURBS ON DRIVER ED

Changes in the driver-education program at Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools are being proposed by Superintendent Wayne Harris and, while they raise the fee for students, they would save the school system money, he says.

The changes would, in effect, increase the fee for the driver-education course sixfold - from $25 to $150.

Harris is recommending that driver education be offered only in summer school.

The change would eliminate the $25 fee and force students to pay the $150 charge for the summer course or else take private training. It would save the school system $82,500 a year by eliminating two teaching positions, Harris said.

The transfer of driver training to summer school would enable students to have better scheduling options during the regular school year, he said.

Driver education is a non-academic course that can be taught effectively during summer school, Harris said.

``It is a matter for public study,'' said Rita Bishop, assistant superintendent for instruction. ``It is contingent on the budget.''

Tight finances and the need to reduce costs are the reasons for the proposal, she said. ``If it weren't for money, we wouldn't be talking about it.''

Students who couldn't afford the fee for driver education could qualify for free or a reduced price.

``We could treat them like those who receive free or reduced-priced lunches,'' Bishop said.

The shift to summer school could cause other problems for students, too.

Students who turn 16 during the regular school year would have to wait until the summer to get their training or enroll in a private course. To get a license at 16, a student must have completed a certified driver-training course.

Salem and Roanoke County offer driver education in both the regular school year and summer school.

Roanoke County's fee is $75 during the regular school year and $125 during summer school.

Most of the students in the county take driver education during the regular school year, said Jack Liddy, supervisor of health, physical education and driver education for the county.

If students can't enroll in the county's program so they can get their license at 16, Liddy said, many will attend a private driving school.

``Students don't want to wait. They will go to a commercial firm,'' he said.

Liddy said the county has no plans to eliminate driver education during the regular school year.

Salem charges the same fee year-round: $75. The school system has a unique arrangement for driver education: It has hired a private business to provide the road training for the students, and the school system provides the classroom instruction. By doing this, the school eliminates the need to lease cars.

Superintendent Wayne Tripp said the arrangement saves the school division about $15,000 a year because it doesn't have to provide the cars for the program.

David Partington, director of secondary and middle school education for Roanoke, said he thinks the school system will have enough instructors and cars to accommodate the expected influx of students during the summer.

Partington said no one will lose his or her job because of the changes. Two positions will be vacated by attrition.

The elimination of driver education during the regular school year is included in a $450,000 list of budget reductions to help ease the school system's financial crunch.

by CNB