After decades of offering drivers’ training to its students, San
Benito High School will no longer provide the program after this
school year.
And with it, a 35-year veteran of behind-the-wheel training, Ben
St. Louis, will exit as well.
After decades of offering drivers’ training to its students, San Benito High School will no longer provide the program after this school year.
And with it, a 35-year veteran of behind-the-wheel training, Ben St. Louis, will exit as well.
“I was disappointed,” St. Louis said, “because I’m pretty good at it.”
The high school district board approved canceling the drivers’ training program at its meeting this week. San Benito High School will continue – as required by state law – to offer the classroom portion of drivers’ education, according to Mike Robustelli, assistant superintendent.
Robustelli and the school staff recommended canceling the drivers’ training, as the lease on the district’s car is expiring, he said. The “sizable investment,” he said, was not worth continuance of the program.
“It’s a regrettable decision, but you have to do what’s in the best interest,” Robustelli said.
San Benito High School will join many other districts across the state in leaving drivers’ training solely to private companies, which will likely cost local parents more money.
Many schools have done so after a law passed in the 1980s that transferred funding – previously allocated to school drivers’ training programs – into the state’s General Fund. After that happened, schools were forced to either eliminate the programs or offer them for fees.
Plus, there has been a threat that private drivers’ education companies would sue public school districts for charging money for their programs, Robustelli said.
“There were several issues that could rear their head, and our legal counsel figures we’re better off not being in that business,” he said.
San Benito High School most recently charged $150 for behind the wheel, Robustelli said. The program, he said, has been running for at least 34 years, the time he’s been with the district.
Students have been required to drive in the program for 10 hours, along with 16 hours of classroom time. St. Louis has also taught classroom drivers’ education, but another teacher currently handles most of that instruction on weekdays.
St. Louis, who has taught more than 8,000 students, said he believes the public “will be a little bit upset about it.” He pointed out he had to obtain credential training through the state, something private companies don’t require.
“Those things come in very, very handy,” he said.
