Audrey Simmons, Coach Ken Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson check out Brookwood School's new automobile that's used for drivers education.  Audrey Simmons is the daughter of Tom and Laurie Simmons of Thomasville; Elizabeth Johnson's parents are Jodi and Johnny Johnson of Quitman. Both students are in the 9th grade at Brookwood.

Brookwood School now has its own vehicle for use in drivers education classes offered on campus - During the 2005 Georgia General Assembly, Senate Bill 226, known as "Joshua's Law," was passed. The new law, which began Jan. 1, 2007, requires 16 year-olds applying for a Class D driver's license to "complete an approved driver education course and complete a total of 40 hours of supervised driving, 6 hours of which must be at night."

Although Brookwood is a college preparatory school, and drivers ed is not a college prep course, Headmaster Mike Notaro said the school had an obligation to provide the class for the convenience of students and their parents.

This semester, 11 students are enrolled in Coach Ken Johnson's drivers ed class. Before they can drive Brookwood's new automobile, however, students must obtain a Georgia Learner's Permit, available when they are 15 years old. Several students begin the 30-hour course when they are 14, then complete the required 6 hours of driving after passing the exam for their learner's permit at age 15.

Notaro said that 34 students are expected to take the drivers ed class during the next school year, with the number increasing to more than 40 in subsequent years. Included in the course are 4 hours of the Georgia Alcohol Drug Awareness Program, required of all teenagers under age 18 in order to receive a driver's license.

Johnson, who has 37 years of teaching and coaching experience, has taught drivers education for 30 years. He came to Brookwood this year from John Milledge Academy, where he had taught for the past 9 years.

Notaro said that the school's new Toyota Camry LE has already had the dealership repairs regarding the recalled accelerator pedal and floor mat issues that are currently in the news. Also, automobiles used to teach students to drive have an important brake control on the passenger side for the teacher to use when necessary.

The headmaster also said that the drivers ed class will be taught at Brookwood this summer if enough students from any area schools are interested. Contact the school's administration office in Flowers Hall for information, 226-8070.