District staff presented proposed increases to the 2025–26 driver education fee schedule on July 17, telling the board the changes are intended to cover shortfalls after a state funding reduction. Jared Black, the district’s business administrator, told the board there were no public comments on the fee revision and that the board will vote on the schedule at its August meeting.

John, a district staff member who presented the fee details, said a recent legislative reduction in state driver-education funding — “about $5,000,000” statewide, as he described it — “trickled out to districts,” and that the district “has had to supplement the driver's ed budget every year to make ends meet.” He said the district currently lacks carryover funds for the program and expects a budget shortfall this year.

The presenter described items the fee increase is intended to cover: maintenance and restriping of school driving ranges, replacement of a fuel tank at Mountain Crest that he said would cost about $12,000, and ongoing vehicle repairs and overtime for instructors. He told the board the district is projecting “about a $30,000 to $40,000 deficit for this year, just paying salaries.”

As presented, the proposal would raise the base driver-education fee from $155 to $255, set the evening class fee at $185, and set the online course fee at $210 to cover vendor costs. John said the increased fees would still be lower than local private options — which he said cost “between $500 and $600” — and would preserve access to instruction while shifting more direct cost to participants.

Board members asked whether the increases would cover the identified needs; John replied the higher fees “would give us enough extra to be able to handle those things like restriping and putting in fuel tank and whatever else.” Jared told the board there were no public commenters on the item that evening and the board did not vote on the fee schedule; the item will return for a vote at the August meeting.

Discussion-only items in the presentation included a comparison of fee schedules from other districts and examples of one-time costs at specific schools. No formal motion or vote was taken on July 17; the board’s next step is an action vote at the August meeting after the public has had an opportunity to review the proposed schedule.