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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 16, 1995                   TAG: 9502160059
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DRIVER EDUCATION FEES TO BE FLEXIBLE

Students at Patrick Henry High School who can't afford a higher driver education fee could take the course free or at a reduced price, Roanoke School Board Chairman Nelson Harris said Wednesday.

Fears that disadvantaged students would be hurt by the proposed change are unfounded because the school division would make fee adjustments for those who qualify, he said.

"We already have provisions to take care of situations where the children can't afford the charges,'' Harris said.

The driver education proposal would shift all classes to summer school and raise the $25 fee to $150. The school system would save $82,500.

Dick Kepley, a guidance counselor at Patrick Henry, said a lot of disadvantaged students look forward to taking driver education, but their families can't afford to pay $150.

Harris said he hasn't heard many complaints about the proposed changes.

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

Salem and Roanoke County offer driver education during the regular and summer sessions.

Roanoke County charges $75 during the regular school year and $125 during summer school. Salem charges $75 year-round. The fees for private courses range from $155 to $185.

by CNB