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Whitley County schools review driver education vehicle needs as program demand grows
Summary
Brady Mullet told the board that driver education demand has outgrown current capacity, the program is charging about $350 per student, enrollment exceeded available slots last year (110 sign-ups, ~30 refunds) and the district is considering buying a replacement vehicle (current car is a 2016) priced at about $23,000 under a fleet program.
Brady Mullet, representing Columbia City High School, outlined the district’s driver education program and the case for replacing its instructional vehicle, telling the board the program has more demand than available instructor/vehicle capacity.
Mullet said the program’s fee is roughly $350 per student (about $50 for the online module and $300 for the in-car instruction). He told the board that 110 students enrolled in 2024–25 but the district oversubscribed available slots and issued roughly 30 refunds, totaling about $9,000 in refunds paid to students who could not be scheduled. "We have a completely self-sustaining program," Mullet said, describing reimbursements for instructor certification and an existing student-driven fund that helps cover vehicle and program costs.
Mullet described staffing and equipment constraints: the program has three certified instructors (down from five), provides six hours of in-car instruction per student, and must meet vehicle rules that an instructional car be insured by the district and be less than 10 years old. The current instructional car is a 2016 Chevy Malibu; Mullet said the district effectively must replace it by early June if it is to remain in compliance.
He outlined a purchase option through a local dealer fleet program for a small crossover (Chevy Trax) priced at about $23,000 and said the district plans to front the purchase with district funds and reimburse from the driver education fund as student fees come in. Mullet emphasized the district also uses the car for other student services, including transporting students in transition programs.
During questions, board members pressed whether one car would be sufficient for projected demand and whether other vehicle types (including minivans or a slightly older used car) might offer better cost-benefit. Mullet said the district has discussed buying more than one car in the future, renting vehicles while the program scales, and pursuing dealer support and warranties for newer cars. He said instructor recruitment and certification remain active priorities and that vehicle decisions may be phased as the program expands.
Dave Smith, present remotely, praised dealer partner Casey for ongoing support of CTE and the district’s teacher/staff recognition efforts.
No formal purchase motion was taken at the meeting; Mullet said the item is informational and that procurement would be brought forward at a later meeting for board action.
