AUBURN - Many schools struggling with budget concerns during the last decade have been forced to cut programs, and driver education has been one of the first to be parked.

Thanks to budget constraints and changing state standards, the program that was once a staple of high school education has become a luxury.

But Auburn parent Joseph Leogrande is trying to fuel initiatives to restore the program, at least in Auburn schools.

His daughter Allie, 13, an eighth-grader at East Middle School will soon be driving the streets of Auburn, as will her friends, and he wants them to have the proper instruction.

He addressed the school board two weeks ago and read from a four-page statement his reasons why Auburn, which has had no driver's ed program since 1994, should bring the program back.

"There has been a 10-year absence of any driver safety being offered, and 10 years of kids not learning basic driving skills," Leogrande said.

He then read to the board statistics from the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study. In 2001, 15- to 20-year-olds were involved in 8,137 fatal vehicle accidents with drivers of varying ages, and in those fatal accidents, 3,608 of the young drivers died. The same group of drivers were involved in 337,000 accidents where injuries were the result.

"Some were crippled, bedridden, or in wheelchairs for the rest of their life," Leogrande read.

Southern Cayuga and Union Springs are the only two local districts that offer both a year-round driver education program and a summer program. Union Springs High School principal Jim Palumbo said that while driver's education is often on the list of cuts to be made if necessary, it never has happened.

"We believe it is good for kids," Palumbo said.

Southern Cayuga High School Principal Dennis Farnsworth said his program is not funded by the district. A $300 fee is charged students wanting to take the course.

"It's a priority for us to ensure the safety of our students, in and out of school," Farnsworth said.

The Union Springs driver education program is taught by technology teacher Joseph Palmiotto. He teaches two semesters during the school year, while another teacher handles the summer program.

The donation of the use of a Chevy Impala by Gillespie Chevrolet on Route 90 has alleviated part of the financial burden on the district. The passenger side of the car is equipped with a brake Palmiotto says he has had to use many times.

"Driver education is a way for students to gain experience in a controlled atmosphere," Palmiotto said. "Many times parents won't drive with their children until they have had some lessons with me - it gives a little more security."

No fee at Union Springs

Union Springs charges no fee for the course. Palmiotto, who has taught there for 11 years, said the school board and administration have shown their concern for students by not cutting the optional program.

"Since we have had it, we have had no major driving-related fatalities with our students," Palmiotto said.

One assignment students work on is researching articles on collisions and drawing an illustration of what happened.

"They usually find out it was driver error - people not paying attention while they drive," he said.

Palmiotto keeps the radio on low and has conversation in the car to help students learn how to do more than one thing at the same time.

The course benefits the students as well as the community.

"Here are 20 students, every semester, who have learned to drive the safe way," Palmiotto said. "Every year at budget time, it is one of the things that could be cut, but the school board saves it every time."

Moravia students lost their driver education program two years ago to budget cuts.

"Because of the lack of state aid from the governor, that program had to be cut by the school board," said Superintendent William Tammaro. "We put it back in every year, hoping we can get it back."

Port Byron principal Shawn Bissetta said the high school has not offered driver education for many years.

"It is a tough budget situation - it is a valuable thing any school would like to offer," Bissetta said. "Mandates from the state have forced us to focus on certain things. I'm not very optimistic that the program will resurface any time soon."

The story is the same in Cato, where their program was eliminated about five years ago.

Some districts that could not offer the program during the school year opted to offer a summer program. Skaneateles Superintendent Walter Sullivan said the decision was made last year after concerns the school-day program may detract from academics..

"We'd never want to get rid of it completely, but it is excessive to offer it during the year and summer," Sullivan said.

Summer program

Jordan-Elbridge offers a summer program, which Superintendent Marilyn Dominick said the district has never seriously considered cutting.

"We try to protect opportunities for kids," Dominick said, adding that the program is generally full and often has a waiting list.

Weedsport offers a summer program, something Superintendent Steven Hubbard said he strongly supports. He said the summer is better for his district because so many students have other activities, such as band, choir, musicals, and work.

Phil Grome, principal at Weedsport High School, wants to help his students to learn to drive safely.

"I took it during the school day when I was in school and many of the lessons I learned there I still use today," Grome said.

About 50 students take the free class in the summer.

Auburn District Superintendent John Plume addressed Leogrande's statement during his superintendent's presentation.

He said that BOCES has made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that they will not provide any driver education.

BOCES District Superintendent of Schools Gary A. Gilchrist said BOCES stopped offering a summer driver education program about 10 years ago.

The main problem was getting enough cars to run the program, an issue Auburn now faces. In the past, dealerships used to get credit for donating a car to a school district, but that benefit no longer exists.

"We have to buy a vehicle - there is no district car certified to take students. A five-passenger car will cost $20,000 to $25,000. A beginning teacher's salary with benefits is between $50,000 and $55,000," Plume told the board.

He said a summer program would be more cost effective at $6,000 per teacher with at least two teachers. A teacher must have certification to teach driver education, something Gilchrist said was the other reason BOCES cut its program.

"This is a place marker in thinking of budget - currently it is not on the priority list you (the board) made a year and a half ago," Plume said.

Board member Judith Freeman said that it was unfortunate the program had been cut, but that she was also disappointed the district stopped providing swimming lessons for elementary students.

"We are now graduating child after child that did not have a chance to swim," Freeman said.

Plume said the district has experienced an infusion of requirements that must be provided to students, making the extras more difficult to fund.

"Schools are called upon to do more and more - we are the surrogate parent," Plume said. "I would like to see some other accommodations made by other organizations."

Leogrande said that many parents can not provide lessons to their children.

"I think it is as important as taking English, math, science ...or other electives," Leogrande said. "I hope you do consider driver's ed this year - or by the time my daughter goes to high school."