St. Mary's NAACP seeks funding partners for affordable driver's ed at Great Mills High School

At the Transportation Advisory Committee's final quarterly meeting, members received an update on an effort by the St. Mary's County NAACP to establish an affordable driver's education program at Great Mills High School, with classes to be provided through the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) on the Great Mills campus.

The committee chair summarized the group's work and survey results that showed support among Great Mills students and parents. "The goal is to provide a course through CSM that would be hosted on the Great Mills property," the chair said, adding that the program aims not only to help students obtain licenses but also to broaden access to vocational and educational opportunities that require transportation.

The working group — which the chair said includes the NAACP, Great Mills High School and other stakeholders — has estimated instructional costs but is seeking a funding route. The NAACP prefers pursuing public grants and has identified potential grant sources but lacks grant-writing capacity; private fundraising through churches and local groups is also under consideration. The working group had a follow-up meeting scheduled the day after the committee meeting.

The committee discussed possible grant sources and outreach; a committee member suggested contacting the Rural Maryland Council as a potential funder or source of application assistance. Staff said they would forward that suggestion to the NAACP working group.

The committee did not take formal action on the project during the meeting but invited the working group to present again as they identify funding and next steps.