September 21, 2021 By Carol Britton Meyer
The drivers' education program based at Hingham High School will continue this year, with an increase in the fee to make it comparable to what other local driver instruction academies charge.
The School Committee approved raising the cost from $675 to $800 at the suggestion of program administrator Denise Stanley. Some financial assistance is available for those of limited income.
This meeting follows the one held last July to discuss a shortfall in the drivers' ed budget, which is no longer an issue with the increase in tuition.
Assuming full enrollment during ever session, there will be a budget surplus that can help pay for the heat in the classrooms that are used after school for instruction and other expenses.
HHS Principal Rick Swanson explained that the program had "been on a bit of a hiatus due to COVID-19, but Denise has been working hard to keep it afloat."
Eleven sessions serving as many as 220 Hingham students, including some from the METCO program, will be offered from September through April, along with three in the summer, which Stanley said are "extremely popular. We usually have to create a waiting list."
The program includes classroom instruction, observation of other student drivers from the back seat -- which helps them to "watch and learn" -- and on-the-road driving experience -- including learning the different rules of the road and basics such as three-point turns, parallel parking, and backing up.
"I've received many phone calls from parents and have had kids stopping by my office [in the counseling department] wanting to sign up for drivers' education," Stanley said. "It's a real benefit to the students."
It was noted that the instructors drop students at their homes after the lessons, including those who are part of the METCO program and live in the Boston area.
Chair Kerry Ni thanked Stanley for her efforts to keep the program up and running. "It's a great service to the town and our kids," she said.
I’m saddened that the author believed it was necessary to point out that METCO students were also taking the class. It comes across as “tone deaf” to me to separate the students in the schools this way.