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School board approves driver's ed increase

By
Mavis Fodness

The cost for eligible students to learn to drive through Luverne Community Education increases $15 for the 2022 program year.
Classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction will now cost $355 per student.
The increase takes effect with classroom sections next month and in June.
The approved increase by the Luverne School Board on Dec. 23 is the third consecutive year for an increase.
This year’s increase covers a wage increase for behind-the-wheel instructors and increasing fuel costs. The increase is the first since 2016 for the behind-the-wheel instructors.
The per-hour rate for driving instructors increases $3 (10 percent) to $28, a more comparable rate with other school districts, according to information provided to board members by Community Education director Lisa Nath.
Luverne’s approved $28-per-hour rate now matches that of Hills-Beaver Creek and is $1 higher than the rate paid in Edgerton and Adrian. Pipestone’s rate is $30 per hour.
Nath anticipates 90 students enrolling in the upcoming program session with an anticipated $31,950 budget. The session would break even if 87 students complete the program.
Luverne School Board members unanimously approved the increase Dec. 23 in a 6-0 vote. Director Jodi Bosch did not attend the meeting.
In other business, the school board:
•approved the hiring of Leah Radisewitz as basketball cheerleading coach beginning Dec. 13 and custodians Britton Stratton also on Dec. 13 and Matthew Fleming on Dec. 20.
•granted the maternity request for elementary teacher Dana Wolf for 13 weeks beginning approximately Feb. 24.

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