Driving school’s closing affects 150 students [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Dec. 17--State transportation department officials said about 150 student drivers were affected by the abrupt closing last week of a Menomonee Falls driving school.

Absolute Driving Academy closed Dec. 8 apparently without notifying its clients.

Its owner, Christopher Badalik, said Saturday that he shut down the driving school at W168-N8938 Appleton Ave. because he ran out of money.

Jill Reeve, of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, said the state has taken Absolute Driving's business files, including student record cards, and is reviewing them to determine what steps student drivers should to take to complete their training with other schools.

The department will be mailing letters, along with the student record cards, to the student drivers to explain what they need to do, Reeve said. Those letters are expected to arrive in the mail on Tuesday, Reeve said.

The abrupt closure of Absolute Driving left parents scrambling to make other driving instruction arrangements for their children and seeking refunds.

But Reeve said parents should wait until they receive the DOT letter and student record cards before signing up with other driving schools.

The student record cards will help avoid having to re-take classes already taken with Absolute, she said.

Badalik, who was in business for nine years, declined to say during an interview Saturday at his Milwaukee home whether he would issue refunds.

Reeve said if people are unable to obtain a refund directly from the school, that they should contact the school's bond company, Western Surety, at (800) 331-6053. Absolute Driving's bond number is 70463121, which is needed to file a claim, Reeve said.

If the bond has been exhausted, those seeking refunds have the option of filing a lawsuit to seek reimbursement, she said.

Earlier this year, Absolute Driving lost its privileges to conduct written tests that students must take before they can get their learner's permit.

Cheryl Hoefert of Richfield said she and her daughter only found out about the problem after her daughter went to the motor vehicle office in West Bend to get her temps. Her daughter had to retake the written test because the state would not honor Absolute Driving's test.

Reeve said Absolute Driving lost its ability to give written tests in October because it failed to respond to the DOT's request for information regarding the business' liability insurance.

Hoefert said last week that her daughter still had three behind-the-wheel driving sessions remaining with Absolute Driving when the school closed.

She paid Absolute Driving $365 for classroom instruction and six behind-the-wheel sessions for their daughter. It will cost $162.50 for her daughter to complete the behind-the-wheel sessions with another school, she said.

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