Laguna Beach : Driver Education May Be Switched to Private Firm
A plan that would turn driver education instruction over to a private firm and return a mathematics instructor to the classroom will be considered by the school board tonight.
Under the proposal, the Laguna Beach Unified School District no longer would use staff time to teach driving to Laguna Beach High School students, said district Supt. Billy J. Barnes. Instead, the district would hire a private firm to give both classroom and field instruction.
The cost of the service is estimated at about $14,000, Barnes said. However, in return, Jack Lythgoe, the current instructor, could return to teaching math, Barnes said.
Because of his teaching credential, Lythgoe theoretically could teach “a variety of subjects,” Barnes said. Currently, Lythgoe teaches only photography and driver education, Barnes said.
If the plan is adopted, a private firm could begin instruction at Laguna Beach High School in the school’s third trimester this year.
Service to the students would not be affected, Barnes said, and field instruction still would be offered on Saturdays, holidays, mornings and evenings, in addition to regular school hours.
The change to private service has been successful at other Orange County school districts, Barnes said.
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