 Legislators
are considering 67 requests from local schools that are
seeking waivers for one or more of the dozens of rules that Illinois
requires. About half of the requests, 33, focus on driver’s
education. Most of those requests ask for permission to raise the
fee that schools charge students to become a new driver. But one
school district is making a first-of-its-kind request.DeKalb's
Community School District 428 wants to opt out of behind-the-wheel
driving classes. The district's Andrea Gorla, assistant
superintendent for finance, said DeKalb would still offer classroom
instruction about driving but would "outsource" the driving time to
a private company.
"We looked at out budget programmatically to see what are we
offering that we do not have to offer," she said.
State law requires both classroom and driving time for new
drivers, which is why Gorla said the district has to ask permission
for a waiver.
The Illinois State Board or Education said this is the first time
a school district has requested permission to end drive-time
teaching.
Gorla said the local school board wants a balanced budget, and it
was either driver’s ed or something else. DeKalb schools lose
$230,000 a year by offering driver’s ed, Gorla said -- that's about
the cost of four teachers. Gorla admits if they are allowed to opt
out of behind-the-wheel classes, a driver’s ed teacher may lose
their job. But she said the district hopes to then fill a job for
all-day kindergarten at one of the district's elementary schools.
But DeKalb is also asking for a driver’s education fee increase,
from $200 to $400. State law sets the fee at $50, and schools have
to ask permission to raise it. The state board says most fees range
from $125 to $250. Last year a district asked to raise the driver's
ed fee to $750 but was turned down.
Gorla said DeKalb's proposal is an "either-or" not an "and."
"If the state does not grant us our waiver, ... then at least
allow us to increase the fee."
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State Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-DeKalb, said DeKalb is trying to get
creative in the face of a tough budget reality.
"We must remember that driver's education at an age earlier than
age 17 is a privilege, it's not a right. Therefore we've got to look
at ways of providing that (so that it) does not detract from proving
education funding."
But not every lawmaker is convinced. State Rep. David Reis,
R-Olney, said he's leery of approving fee increase for schools just
trying to find a buck.
"Where is the cost (for providing driver's ed) at? How are some
schools doing it for $50? Are they just subsidizing it through their
local budgets?"
The State Board of Education said many schools are charging more
and more to cover the rising costs of driver's ed. But those fees
hikes still don't cover everything.
Lawmakers have 60 days to act on the waiver requests. If the
legislature does not say no to the requests, or single items, then
the waivers are automatically granted.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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