Huntington High School spring driver education program students who were caught up in the COVID-19 pandemic closures are now able to complete the program’s requirements via modified rules authorized by the state and approved by the district.
“At last, we have recent guidelines from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles regarding the continuation of our driver education program,” said Georgia D. McCarthy, who directs Huntington UFSD’s program. “Our priority is to ensure that our students receive their course completion certificate (MV-285) safely and efficiently. We are now able to provide program classroom instruction remotely through the Google Classroom platform. In addition, the in-vehicle instruction can now be under the supervision of a parent/guardian.”
A packet of information and the New York State DMV manual are both posted on the Huntington School District’s website at www.hufsd.edu and can be viewed or downloaded.
To take advantage of these modified regulations for students to obtain the MV-285 certificate, the following must be followed:
1. Parent or guardian must provide hard copies or scan/e-mail the following documents:
Valid New York State driver’s license, registration, inspection and insurance for the vehicle that the student will be driving. (see Google Docs form posted on Huntington UFSD’s website).
2. Huntington UFSD will provide the students with a Google Classroom code, schedule and instructor info for students to log in to complete their 14 remaining hours of classroom instruction. (see Google Classroom calendar form)
3. The student must log on and stay logged on for the entirety of instruction. They will be responsible to submit all work related to a specific lesson.
4. Huntington UFSD will provide a driving manual with specific and detailed information regarding the 14 remaining hours of in-vehicle instruction, observation and applied practice that the parent/guardian will be responsible for delivering to the student. (see driving manual FORM)
5. Parent or guardian holding a valid New York State driver’s license and other required documents will review and share all information with the student from the driving manual.
6. Huntington UFSD will provide the parent or guardian with a document that they will complete and sign that will attest to the completion of the in-vehicle instruction (see IVC FORM).
7. The parent or guardian and student will complete and sign the form after completing the in-vehicle instruction and submit to the director’s office for verification.
8. The Huntington UFSD classroom instructor will provide the director with attendance and grading. Once the director reviews the completion of the student’s in-class requirements and receives the completed and signed IVC form verifying the completion of the in-vehicle requirements, the MV-285 completion forms will be generated. The students will be notified when to pick the certificates up from Room 122 at the high school since each student’s signature must be kept on file.
Not interested in completing the Huntington UFSD driver’s education program? A refund for a portion of in-vehicle instruction is available. East Meadow Driving School completed ten hours of in-vehicle instruction. A percentage of the district’s costs to the contractor will be refunded. Parents must email the Ms. McCarthy at gmccarthy@hufsd.edu requesting the refund.