SHELBY — Shelby City Schools has acted to make driver education more accommodating to students’ busy schedules.
The district recently began a partnership with Muskingum Ohio Valley ESC Driving School to bring drivers ed to its high school for students age 15-and-a-half and up.
According to its website, MOV ESC Driving School was approved by the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022, allowing driver education programs to be opened in 14 districts across the region.
In collaboration with the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center, Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center created the program to “meet a need expressed by the districts, as well as to address a significant barrier to student employment.”
The course includes 24 hours of online instruction, which is followed by eight hours of in-vehicle instruction with a site coordinator.
Debra Addison, Shelby City Schools bus driver and food service worker, is the district’s official site coordinator. She completed her two-weekend training in Zanesville during summer break.
“This is going to help out a lot of students, so I wanted to get on board with this,” Addison said.
First two Shelby students complete program
Shelby is currently the only district in Richland County partnered with MOV ESC. Only students enrolled in the district, who have also obtained their permit, are eligible to complete the program.
The total cost is $350, which includes both online and behind-the-wheel instruction. Payments can be made in full or split into two installments — an $100 deposit and $250 due to schedule behind-the-wheel instruction.
After successfully completing the program, students receive a certificate from MOV ESC to present to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when taking their driving test.
Two Shelby students have already completed their coursework, along with their driving time with Addison.
Junior Sophie Penn and sophomore Renner Ganl worked through their driver education during the summer months and recently received their certificates.
Both Penn and Ganl agreed that having drivers education available online and through their district was convenient for their schedules.
“It (MOV ESC program) makes it easier, because it’s right at the school,” Penn said.
The Shelby students each said they’d recommend this option to fellow classmates.
How to enroll
Addison said she tries to work around students’ schedules to find the best time for in-vehicle instruction.
“We did a couple Sunday drives (with students),” she said. “I want to make it easiest on them.
“It’s two to three hours (of driving) each time. It’s a maximum of three hours with a fifteen-minute break,” Addison said.
Interested Shelby City Schools students, who meet program requirements, can enroll in the program and make payments at www.mvesc.org.
For more information, contact Shelby City School District by calling (419)-342-3647 or email Addison at addison.debbie@shelbyk12.org.