Houghton-Portage Township Schools restarting driver’s ed program

It has been over a decade, but driver’s education is set to make a comeback in the Houghton-Portage Township School District. Superintendent Doreen Kramer says a new hire is a certified driving instructor and that provided too good of an opportunity to pass up. She says that it is difficult for teenagers to find the service locally.

Instructor certification requires six months of coursework.

Driver’s ed will only be available to district students and staff are beginning to search for a vehicle. Kramer got the approval at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. She says that there are costs involved in running the program, but feels that hardships being faced by students justify the expense.

A food truck is also on the wish list, but those can be costly. An option currently located in Marquette County was priced at $80,000, and Kramer felt it was too big for the needs of Houghton Schools.