Starting next year, those Ironton High School students who choose to take driver's education will find a new face at the front of the classroom - and a new fee to pay as well.

The school district has opted to partner with AAA of Ironton to provide driver's training.

Superintendent Dean Nance said the move is in response to a recent state move.

Until recently, driver's education training fell under the auspices of the Ohio Department of Education.

It now is under the direction of the Ohio Department of Commerce. Driver's education instructors are now required to have a new series of certifications in order to teach. Nance said it made more sense to partner with AAA.

"We would have to have paid Mr. Medinger so much that we could not have offered it for $200," Nance explained. "It wasn't a cost-effective program to run at the high school."

The first class will be Jan 10-13 and 18-19 from 2:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. each afternoon.

Other driver's ed classes will be available later in the year. The cost is $200. Typically, AAA charges $275 for this service.

"The class is open to students at Ironton or St. Joe or anyone in the community who wants to take it," Nance said. "Approximately 100 students a year take it."

Nance said to his knowledge, only a few schools in Scioto and Lawrence counties continue to offer traditional driver's ed training.