WILMINGTON- Driver education students at Twin Valley High School may have to take a detour on their way to receiving their licenses this year, as the school has been unable to fill an open instructor position. TVHS Principal Tom Fitzgerald and Windham Southwest Supervisory Union Superintendent Chris Pratt updated the Twin Valley School Board about the problem at Tuesday’s regular board meeting.
“We don’t have a teacher,” said Pratt. “We had two candidates. One declined, and one was too far away. There’s no one interested in providing it as a contractual service either.”
“They’re an endangered species,” said Fitzgerald. “There are very few instructors left in the state.”
Pratt explained that the district has been looking for a driver’s education instructor since April, when the previous instructor, Dave Kolkebeck, retired. The search has been difficult, in part due to the certification requirements needed to be a driving instructor in Vermont. According to Pratt, to become certified requires a licensed teacher to have 12 hours of additional coursework. The state will also not grant a provisional license to a teacher willing to put in the extra time. Pratt noted that licensed instructors from surrounding states are not recognized by Vermont, which adds to the hiring dilemma.
Fitzgerald and Pratt said that initially they were under the impression that the Vermont Agency of Education would grant the school a waiver to teach without a licensed instructor, but when they applied for one they were told no.
“The state won’t consider a request for a driver education waiver,” said a frustrated Pratt. “They told us we hadn’t explored all of our options.”
Pratt added the only qualified teacher they could find was in the northern part of the state, and it wasn’t economically feasible for that person to commute to Whitingham three times a week. Closer schools, such as Leland & Gray, Brattleboro, and Mount Anthony, have instructors who don’t have time available for Twin Valley.
“When I asked the state what their solution would be,” said Pratt, “they said we have to offer it (driver education). So basically they have no solution for us.”
Board member Aimee Reed said, “That is unacceptable as a parent.”
Both Pratt and Fitzgerald agreed but reiterated the state’s refusal to consider the waiver, or provide them with other options, has limited their ability to offer the course.
“Is there a way to do the classroom portion online?” asked board member Phil Taylor. Pratt said he didn’t know. “For something that’s mandated by the state, there’s very little support.” Pratt said he would contact the AOE again, in part to express the board’s frustration with the situation. Fitzgerald said former instructor Kolkebeck was unavailable and at last report was hiking in Spain.
WSSU business manager Karen Atwood suggested another former instructor, but there was uncertainty as to whether his certification would be valid.
“I would be happy to take a stab at this one,” said Rep. Ann Manwaring, who was at the meeting and sits on the House Education Committee. “I don’t understand why you can’t get a waiver.” She said she would contact Pratt for additional information before contacting the AOE.
“We are at the point where I have a class scheduled to start on Monday,” said Fitzgerald, “and there are kids who won’t be able to work it into their schedules later in the year. I don’t know what I’ll do with the 17 kids.”
“It will put the students a year behind in driver education,” added Pratt.
Read more: Deerfield Valley News - Lack of qualified instructors driving school to find a solution
“We don’t have a teacher,” said Pratt. “We had two candidates. One declined, and one was too far away. There’s no one interested in providing it as a contractual service either.”
“They’re an endangered species,” said Fitzgerald. “There are very few instructors left in the state.”
Pratt explained that the district has been looking for a driver’s education instructor since April, when the previous instructor, Dave Kolkebeck, retired. The search has been difficult, in part due to the certification requirements needed to be a driving instructor in Vermont. According to Pratt, to become certified requires a licensed teacher to have 12 hours of additional coursework. The state will also not grant a provisional license to a teacher willing to put in the extra time. Pratt noted that licensed instructors from surrounding states are not recognized by Vermont, which adds to the hiring dilemma.
Fitzgerald and Pratt said that initially they were under the impression that the Vermont Agency of Education would grant the school a waiver to teach without a licensed instructor, but when they applied for one they were told no.
“The state won’t consider a request for a driver education waiver,” said a frustrated Pratt. “They told us we hadn’t explored all of our options.”
Pratt added the only qualified teacher they could find was in the northern part of the state, and it wasn’t economically feasible for that person to commute to Whitingham three times a week. Closer schools, such as Leland & Gray, Brattleboro, and Mount Anthony, have instructors who don’t have time available for Twin Valley.
“When I asked the state what their solution would be,” said Pratt, “they said we have to offer it (driver education). So basically they have no solution for us.”
Board member Aimee Reed said, “That is unacceptable as a parent.”
Both Pratt and Fitzgerald agreed but reiterated the state’s refusal to consider the waiver, or provide them with other options, has limited their ability to offer the course.
“Is there a way to do the classroom portion online?” asked board member Phil Taylor. Pratt said he didn’t know. “For something that’s mandated by the state, there’s very little support.” Pratt said he would contact the AOE again, in part to express the board’s frustration with the situation. Fitzgerald said former instructor Kolkebeck was unavailable and at last report was hiking in Spain.
WSSU business manager Karen Atwood suggested another former instructor, but there was uncertainty as to whether his certification would be valid.
“I would be happy to take a stab at this one,” said Rep. Ann Manwaring, who was at the meeting and sits on the House Education Committee. “I don’t understand why you can’t get a waiver.” She said she would contact Pratt for additional information before contacting the AOE.
“We are at the point where I have a class scheduled to start on Monday,” said Fitzgerald, “and there are kids who won’t be able to work it into their schedules later in the year. I don’t know what I’ll do with the 17 kids.”
“It will put the students a year behind in driver education,” added Pratt.
Read more: Deerfield Valley News - Lack of qualified instructors driving school to find a solution
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