WICHITA, Kan. — The latest round of budget cuts means Wichita students won't learn to drive at school. USD 259 proposes eliminating driver's education at all of the high schools. The cut would save the district $1.1 million a year, but 14 people would lose their jobs.
"It could be the most important class a student might take," said Wichita Driving School owner Mike Johnson. But driver's education is too expensive of a class for the Wichita district to keep around. It plans to eliminate the program in July. "Some of the smaller districts probably charge enough to cover their costs but Wichita public schools is offering it at a lower rate," Johnson said.
Wichita charges anywhere from $227 to $60 for driver's education. Johnson says that's nothing when you think about paying a teacher to drive with the students. His classes start at $375 for one on one instruction.
