WITC to offer driver’s ed at HHS

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WITC in New Richmond will take over driver’s education at Hudson High School beginning next fall.

The Hudson School Board approved the contract at their meeting on Jan. 11 which calls for WITC to furnish an instructor, vehicles, signage, insurance, textbooks and coordination of the program. According to Director of Financial Services Tim Erickson, longtime HHS driver’s education teacher Bob Branson will continue in that role under the new contract, compensated by WITC.

The school will furnish classroom space and teaching equipment along with contact information for eligible students age 15 and over.

The cost of the program is $310 per student including 30 hours of classroom instruction at $90, six hours of behind-the-wheel training and six hours of behind-the-wheel observation at a cost of $220. That’s $10 more than the fee students currently pay. There is an additional $40 charge if a student fails to keep a driving appointment.

The school board supported a district recommendation to cut driver’s education from the high school curriculum as a budget-cutting measure. The net cost of the program after parent-paid fees to the district is $96,000. The fee for the program was raised from $200 to $300 per student last fall.

Erickson said that the WITC program is certified by the state’s Department of Public Instruction.

Tags: high school, school board, education