Driver's ed in the hands of Legislature
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 30, 2015 1:50 AM
Wayne County Public Schools' driver's education cars have been parked since June 30, with both instructors and the new school superintendent anxious to reinstate the program.
The district has its own fleet of driver's education cars, with two companies contracted to provide the service. A+ Driving, run by Craig Uzzell, serves Spring Creek and Southern Wayne high schools, while Quality Driving, operated by Jim Bennett, handles the remaining schools.
With the state House and Senate at odds over continuing to fund driver's education, school systems have been stalled until the budget is passed.
Uzzell and Bennett say they have been inundated with calls from students and parents wondering when they can schedule driving time.
"I have probably got 170 kids who haven't finished," Uzzell said. "Jim's probably got 400 to 500 that have gone through the classroom but not the driving."
"I think the problem is these parents don't realize the funding has stopped," Bennett said. "I have had some awful bad calls, mostly from parents upset with me."
The problem, though, is not in scheduling or even with the district. Blame falls on the legislators, the men say.
"It's not the school system's fault. It has nothing to do with Wayne County Public Schools. It's the state," Uzzell said. "If they would just say, we're going to fund it or we're not going to fund it.
"Last year, if they had said they're not going to fund it, they should have put a plan in place. It's not fair for these kids because they can't get a permit or license because our legislators are not passing a budget."
Uzzell said North Carolina offers one of the best driver's education programs around.
"Some states don't require driver's ed and North Carolina does," he said of the two-phase setup -- featuring 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours behind the wheel. Students can start at age 141/2, obtaining a permit at age 15 if they have completed the 36-hour program.
The "graduated license" option allows students to receive a limited license, restricted to driving from 5-9 p.m. That time restriction is lifted after six months, with the student allowed to drive with another driver who has at least five years' experience.
Pulling the props out from under the program will not only be a detriment to the young drivers getting much-needed experience, but will be far-reaching, Uzzell said.
"Without driver's ed, insurance rates are going up, not just for the beginning drivers but for everybody," he said. "If they phase this program out, it will affect everyone you come in contact with. Parents of those 10-year-olds think it doesn't affect them, the ones that are older think it doesn't affect them, but it will affect everybody."
WCPS has been among the minority of school districts opting not to charge for the program. That may all change, depending on the legislative outcome.
Uzzell and Bennett say they have already begun fielding calls from parents asking for private instruction.
"But that's pretty much ones that can afford it," Uzzell said. "I charge $275 for the six hours behind the wheel; Jim charges $325. My fee if it goes strictly private is $350 (for both the class and drive time)."
In the meantime, Bennett expressed frustration over being stalled.
"I missed two weeks before Christmas for exams. I missed over a week and a half for bad weather, then at the end of the year we missed two more weeks because of exams and we're driving after school," he said. "You're already a step behind. We drive over the summer when we can catch up. But they stopped it June 30.
"I care about the kids. I know the parents are upset, but the state has set this up."
Even if the state budget were passed today, Uzzell said it will take a year to catch up on those eligible and waiting to drive.
WCPS Superintendent Dr. Mike Dunsmore said he understands and shares in the frustration.
"We're at the mercy right now of the General Assembly. They changed the rules after we put budgets in," he said.
He said he wholeheartedly believes in the importance of driver's ed, considering it an important "instructional piece" for students, which should be handled at the school level.
Districts can charge up to $65 for the program, which many have opted to do, including Tyrrell County, where Dunsmore was previously superintendent. He said that school system also offered a sliding scale based on ability to pay.
"That's something we're probably going to take a hard look at moving forward," he said. "I think we're going to have to make some decisions moving forward, when we're going to start that programming and how we're going to fund it."
WCPS has a bid process for the driver's education contract, with one option discussed being having just one provider.
"It's something now we're all gearing up and starting to look at what everybody else is doing, what the surrounding states are doing and what the best model is," Dunsmore said. "Driver's ed is a huge, huge thing for kids.
"I'm confident in the folks we have here and the folks that are teaching the driver's ed here are outstanding. I'm sure when we get some resolution to this we'll be able to get caught up and get back on track."
As superintendent, as well as a parent himself and a citizen, Dunsmore said he is keenly aware of the responsibility that comes with putting young people out on the roads. Obtaining a driver's license is not only a personal milestone for youth, but a help to families having an extra driver in the household.
His message to parents and students in the crosshairs of this debate is to be patient.
"I apologize there's a vacuum right now," he said. "We just weren't prepared for this budget-wise.
"We are working on it. We're trying to get a plan together and hopefully the budget's going to be passed, but we're also planning for when that occurs."