PARIS — Oxford Hills/Nezinscot Adult & Community Education’s Executive Director Tina Christophersen advised the district’s school board of directors that the winter/spring ’22 is off to a strong start.

She reported that since the latest catalog was published late last year that enrollments have numbered 74 for academic classes, 45 for enrichment and another 21 for workplace training.

Christopherson said the commercial driver’s license program is going particularly well; effective Monday anyone wishing to earn their CDL will have to complete formal truck driver training, approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, instead of just taking their permit and license tests.

“When they put out the announcement [that training] had to be approved, we were the first in the state of Maine to be approved as a training provider,” Christophersen said. “We are getting calls, the phone is ringing off the hook. The first class started tonight.

“We are getting calls from companies who have people who already have their permit but need drive time …. from as far away as Bangor.”

Christophersen added that Adult Ed is already in position to expand the program if demand continues, with a second part time instructor just hired and the purchase of another truck for the program in the budget.

“We’re also bracing ourselves for a tech school influx” for CDL training, she said.

The cost for CDL training through Oxford Hills/Nezinscot Adult Ed is $5,500. Maine Savings Federal Credit Union offers zero percent financial assistance loans for CDL training. More information about the program can be found in the online winter/spring catalog (https://sad17.maineadulted.org/).