Students who were unable to enroll in a Driver Education class this year may have a second chance to get this behind the wheel experience.

A fee-based Driver Ed class will be offered this year for students who are or will be 15 years old by August 31, 2010. The cost of this class is $375 for Rockwood residents. Michael Seppi, Director of Community Education for Rockwood said, “Since this class is required to be self-funded, a fee is charged to cover costs such as teacher salaries, car maintenance, program administration, etc.”

Unlike the course offered during the school day, this fee-based class will not qualify for credit, but there are other benefits.

The course will include classroom instruction, six hours behind the wheel, and 6-12 hours of in-car observation. Seppi says this course is very similar to Driver Ed classes held during school but, “The before school class accomplishes two things: 1) It is being offered for those students who were not able to enroll for the school day program, but would still like to take the class; and 2) the before school class offers additional behind the wheel drive time than is offered during the school day class.”

The class will begin August 31, 2010 and is expected to be completed before winter break. 

“There is some flexibility built in to accommodate schedules for students when the behind-the-wheel portion of the class starts,” Seppi said. “However, the goal is to complete the class prior to winter break.”

A minimum of nine students is needed for this program to be held.

“Given the complex nature of scheduling drive time for students, there are certain student-to-teacher ratios that must be met.  In addition, we want to minimize the overall cost to students, so we try to have as many students as the ratio will allow,” Seppi continued, “ If we do not have nine students sign up for the program, it will need to be cancelled.  If we have more than nine students enroll, then we would try to identify another driver’s education teacher to accommodate the extra students.”

The classroom instruction part of the class will be during Zero Hour at Lafayette in Room B-1, the Driver Education classroom. In-car observation and behind-the-wheel drive time will also be during zero hour, but instructors will be able to schedule other drive or observation times when convenient for the student.

Registration is available online at www.rockwood.k12.mo.us\communityed. Online registration is recommended, but forms can be picked up in the Guidance Office to register by mail.