07/10/20 - I have made the decision that for the remainder of 2020 I will only offer an online classroom option for the classroom portion of Driver's Ed. I have made this decision for the following reasons:
- After hosting several Zoom classes I have discovered that virtual classes do not seem to have the same impact as in-person classes, and an all online option will probably be best for the time being.
- Due to the increased driving time students need to complete with an instructor, I am extremely busy completing driving appointments with students.
- It seems abundantly clear that we have not resolved our issues with the Coronavirus, and this makes it extremely difficult to plan ahead for anything that would involve multiple students in the same location.
So, any student that has registered for the hybrid classes, I will continue to host classes until I get all these students completed. I also have options for the completions of essays to substitute for any missed classes.
Also, I will re-evaluate my price structure and you may see a change in pricing at the end of August. As for right now, until the end of August, the price for the all online Driver's Ed program will remain $350.
As always, If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
05/19/2020 - More good news as it relates to Driver's Ed. As of today the Capsell Building in Wautoma is open to the public. This means that I can resume in-person classes again, however there will be a reduction in class size and an emphasis on social distancing and a sanitary learning environment. I already have classes on my calendar for June and July, so current students can sign up for those classes on my website. I am also still approved to provide classroom instruction virtually and I plan to continue virtual instruction to help ensure all students have every opportunity to complete the in-person classes. I truly appreciate everyone's patience as I get caught up from the time lost.
05/06/20 - One more update received today. The State sent an email at 11:10 a.m. today saying that we may resume driving operations (which we knew), but we can only drive with one student in the vehicle at a time. This was unexpected to say the least. After yesterdays announcement, many partnered students scheduled 2 hr appointments throughout May and into June.
What this means moving forward:
I am going to leave all the appointments as is, HOWEVER I am asking each student to speak with their partner and figure out who will drive for the first hour of the appointment and who will drive for the second hour. Then each student would only need to arrive at the appropriate driving time.
This also means that with the absence of observation hours each student will have additional driving hours they will need to log. The ratio is for every 1 hour of missed observation the student needs 1/2 hour of additional driving. So after I make this post I am going to convert any un-booked two hour driving appointments to individual 1 hour driving appointments. That way each student can individually book additional drive time. If a student just has a half hour to make up, still book a 1 hour appointment.
To summarize: Student partners will keep the appointments that they have BUT they NEED to communicate with each other as to who will drive the first hour and who will drive the second hour. Additional driving time will be needed for each driver due to the absence of observation time (ratio: 1/2 hour of driving for 1 hour of missed observation). Open (un-booked) 2 hr. appointments will be converted to individual 1 hr appointments so students can schedule their additional drive times without coordinating with their partner.
I apologize for the confusion, as this was a surprise for me as well. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
05/05/20 - New update as of 05/05/20 - The DMV is opening back up!
This is the timeline they have shared with me, as it pertains to new drivers:
05/07/20 @ 5:00 p.m. Anyone who had a previously scheduled test cancelled can go online and re-schedule an exam.
05/08/20 - Those that would like to schedule a new exam (did not have an exam previously scheduled) can go online schedule a new exam.
05/11/20 - DMV will begin issue instructional permits and offer onsite temps testing again. No appointment needed.
05/26/20 - DMV will begin road testing again, utilizing safety precautions and protective gear.
But... the biggest news is that for students that are 16-17 years of age and have fully completed a Driver's Ed program, the DMV is offering a Road Test waiver. This means that Parents/Guardians can accept responsibility of the safe driving habits of their teen and sign an electronic agreement approving of the waiver, and that will allow their teen to get a license without road testing.
If parents would still like their student to take a road test, they are still able to. The waiver is only an option.
The reason the DMV is doing this is because of a backlog of road tests numbering somewhere near 16,000. They need to get caught up. The DMV is calling this waiver a "pilot program". They gave no indication as to how long the waiver program will be open for.
So, what this means to Badgerland Driver's Ed students. I will begin driving with students again on May 8th. As I resume driving the following conditions will be imposed:
- All students must wear a mask when in my vehicle. If you don't have a mask, I will issue you a reusable mask that must be worn for each appointment.
- I will have hand sanitizer available in the car for students to use.
- I will have cleaning wipes available for each student to clean the driving area after they are done driving
- Windows will be kept down when appropriate.
- A permission slip will need to be signed by the parent/guardian of the student allowing their child to be instructed with the following conditions.
Please note - If I do not have a permission slip or your child does not have a mask, I will not allow them to drive - even if the partner says they are OK with them driving without a mask.
As for classes, I am still offering an all online classroom option, the hybrid option (20 hours online, 10 hours in-person), and I have just hosted my first virtual class using Zoom. I will look at hosting more virtual classes through May, and I am hoping I can resume regular classes in June. If not, I will continue as I have been these last few months.
Finally, as you know, everything regarding the sate of our community is day to day. My intentions are to utilize this window of opportunity in the safest manner possible to help my students keep moving forward towards their goal. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask. I am truly trying to do my best to make good safe decisions to operate my business, assist my students, and respect everyone's safety and beliefs.
I hope to see you soon!
04/28/20 - So, in the ever changing status of everything related to the WI Safer at Home Executive Order, I received an email on 04/27/20 informing me that Driver's Education is an essential business. But... in conducting my business I still need to adhere to social distancing requirements.
So, moving forward, I will continue to suspend driving instruction until:
1. social distancing requirements are reduced; or
2. the DMV resumes services including new driver road testing.
At the time that either of those things happen, I will resume driving with the following changes:
1. Each student will have issued to them a reusable mask which must be worn for each driving lesson; 2. sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer will be available in the car for each driver to use before they drive;
3. the car windows will be kept down when appropriate; and
4. a permission slip must be signed by a parent/guardian allowing for their student to receive driving lessons with these changes.
Again, as noted earlier, this is a pretty fluid situation and any or all of the items discussed in this post can change at any time. What I have written above is merely a reflection of the current information I have. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
- After hosting several Zoom classes I have discovered that virtual classes do not seem to have the same impact as in-person classes, and an all online option will probably be best for the time being.
- Due to the increased driving time students need to complete with an instructor, I am extremely busy completing driving appointments with students.
- It seems abundantly clear that we have not resolved our issues with the Coronavirus, and this makes it extremely difficult to plan ahead for anything that would involve multiple students in the same location.
So, any student that has registered for the hybrid classes, I will continue to host classes until I get all these students completed. I also have options for the completions of essays to substitute for any missed classes.
Also, I will re-evaluate my price structure and you may see a change in pricing at the end of August. As for right now, until the end of August, the price for the all online Driver's Ed program will remain $350.
As always, If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
05/19/2020 - More good news as it relates to Driver's Ed. As of today the Capsell Building in Wautoma is open to the public. This means that I can resume in-person classes again, however there will be a reduction in class size and an emphasis on social distancing and a sanitary learning environment. I already have classes on my calendar for June and July, so current students can sign up for those classes on my website. I am also still approved to provide classroom instruction virtually and I plan to continue virtual instruction to help ensure all students have every opportunity to complete the in-person classes. I truly appreciate everyone's patience as I get caught up from the time lost.
05/06/20 - One more update received today. The State sent an email at 11:10 a.m. today saying that we may resume driving operations (which we knew), but we can only drive with one student in the vehicle at a time. This was unexpected to say the least. After yesterdays announcement, many partnered students scheduled 2 hr appointments throughout May and into June.
What this means moving forward:
I am going to leave all the appointments as is, HOWEVER I am asking each student to speak with their partner and figure out who will drive for the first hour of the appointment and who will drive for the second hour. Then each student would only need to arrive at the appropriate driving time.
This also means that with the absence of observation hours each student will have additional driving hours they will need to log. The ratio is for every 1 hour of missed observation the student needs 1/2 hour of additional driving. So after I make this post I am going to convert any un-booked two hour driving appointments to individual 1 hour driving appointments. That way each student can individually book additional drive time. If a student just has a half hour to make up, still book a 1 hour appointment.
To summarize: Student partners will keep the appointments that they have BUT they NEED to communicate with each other as to who will drive the first hour and who will drive the second hour. Additional driving time will be needed for each driver due to the absence of observation time (ratio: 1/2 hour of driving for 1 hour of missed observation). Open (un-booked) 2 hr. appointments will be converted to individual 1 hr appointments so students can schedule their additional drive times without coordinating with their partner.
I apologize for the confusion, as this was a surprise for me as well. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
05/05/20 - New update as of 05/05/20 - The DMV is opening back up!
This is the timeline they have shared with me, as it pertains to new drivers:
05/07/20 @ 5:00 p.m. Anyone who had a previously scheduled test cancelled can go online and re-schedule an exam.
05/08/20 - Those that would like to schedule a new exam (did not have an exam previously scheduled) can go online schedule a new exam.
05/11/20 - DMV will begin issue instructional permits and offer onsite temps testing again. No appointment needed.
05/26/20 - DMV will begin road testing again, utilizing safety precautions and protective gear.
But... the biggest news is that for students that are 16-17 years of age and have fully completed a Driver's Ed program, the DMV is offering a Road Test waiver. This means that Parents/Guardians can accept responsibility of the safe driving habits of their teen and sign an electronic agreement approving of the waiver, and that will allow their teen to get a license without road testing.
If parents would still like their student to take a road test, they are still able to. The waiver is only an option.
The reason the DMV is doing this is because of a backlog of road tests numbering somewhere near 16,000. They need to get caught up. The DMV is calling this waiver a "pilot program". They gave no indication as to how long the waiver program will be open for.
So, what this means to Badgerland Driver's Ed students. I will begin driving with students again on May 8th. As I resume driving the following conditions will be imposed:
- All students must wear a mask when in my vehicle. If you don't have a mask, I will issue you a reusable mask that must be worn for each appointment.
- I will have hand sanitizer available in the car for students to use.
- I will have cleaning wipes available for each student to clean the driving area after they are done driving
- Windows will be kept down when appropriate.
- A permission slip will need to be signed by the parent/guardian of the student allowing their child to be instructed with the following conditions.
Please note - If I do not have a permission slip or your child does not have a mask, I will not allow them to drive - even if the partner says they are OK with them driving without a mask.
As for classes, I am still offering an all online classroom option, the hybrid option (20 hours online, 10 hours in-person), and I have just hosted my first virtual class using Zoom. I will look at hosting more virtual classes through May, and I am hoping I can resume regular classes in June. If not, I will continue as I have been these last few months.
Finally, as you know, everything regarding the sate of our community is day to day. My intentions are to utilize this window of opportunity in the safest manner possible to help my students keep moving forward towards their goal. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask. I am truly trying to do my best to make good safe decisions to operate my business, assist my students, and respect everyone's safety and beliefs.
I hope to see you soon!
04/28/20 - So, in the ever changing status of everything related to the WI Safer at Home Executive Order, I received an email on 04/27/20 informing me that Driver's Education is an essential business. But... in conducting my business I still need to adhere to social distancing requirements.
So, moving forward, I will continue to suspend driving instruction until:
1. social distancing requirements are reduced; or
2. the DMV resumes services including new driver road testing.
At the time that either of those things happen, I will resume driving with the following changes:
1. Each student will have issued to them a reusable mask which must be worn for each driving lesson; 2. sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer will be available in the car for each driver to use before they drive;
3. the car windows will be kept down when appropriate; and
4. a permission slip must be signed by a parent/guardian allowing for their student to receive driving lessons with these changes.
Again, as noted earlier, this is a pretty fluid situation and any or all of the items discussed in this post can change at any time. What I have written above is merely a reflection of the current information I have. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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Behind the Wheel
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