On Aug. 13, 2026, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver & Vehicle Services (DVS) taped a Cease and Desist Order to the door of the Northland Driving School, located at 2306 Mountain Shadow Drive. The order read: “Northland Driving School LLC is not currently licensed to operate as a commercial driver training school in Minnesota. The school is prohibited from providing classroom or behind-the-wheel driver education instruction.”
The Monitor received reports from several concerned parents in mid-July because their children had completed the Northland Driving School classroom sessions, but the owner, Julie Spry, had failed to submit their completion certificates to the DVS. As a result, the students could not be issued their driving permits to complete the behind-the-wheel portion of their instruction.
Many parents also posted their concerns on the Hermantown Neighbors Facebook page, accusing Spry of not returning phone calls or providing parents refunds.
On Aug. 12, 2026, the Monitor received a phone call from a parent who was concerned that Spry was still teaching classes, despite the fact that completion certificates hadn’t been issued to students who had taken the previous class. That same day, we heard a 911 call where police were dispatched to the Northland Driving School due to a fraud complaint. The caller stated that they had “paid for a permit,” but that their “daughter cannot take the test” at the DMV.
We drove to Northland Driving School and found a police officer speaking with Ms. Spry. After he left, we interviewed her. Spry said the completion certificates weren’t being sent to the DMV because she was switching insurance companies. When we asked her why she wasn’t giving people refunds, she said that she had not cashed their checks.
Spry did not explain why she was still teaching classes, nor did she mention anything about her business’s licensure. She asked us repeatedly not to run a story.
Excerpts of our conversation follow here:
John Ramos: I’m John Ramos, a reporter with the Monitor.
Julie Spry: Hello.
JR: I had emailed you a while back about this issue where kids aren’t getting their DMV—
JS: Okay, I’m not gonna get into that. It’s not a thing, and it’s not gonna go on the Monitor.
JR: It’s not the case anymore?
JS: Okay, seriously, I’m not gonna be in any paper. I don’t want you blasting me on the Monitor.
JR: Listen, I already have like half a dozen complaints that I could put on the Monitor … I’m coming to get your side of it.
JS: Do you really want to do that to me?
JR: If it’s the case. If it’s true.
JS: No! It’s not!
JR: So it’s not true?
JS: I sent things to somebody to send them through to the DMV. They just haven’t done it yet.
JR: But it’s been a while.
JS: I have not cashed anyone’s checks …
JR: Well, I just want to get to the bottom of it …
JS: I understand and it’s being worked on and getting figured out.
JR: So it’s still not fixed.
JS: It’s getting fixed, yes.
JR: How long do you figure it’ll be?
JS: Hopefully this week. Hopefully today. I am working on it. I’m working with someone to work on it. Okay? Please do not blast me on the Monitor. I do not need that.
JR: Well, these are upset parents—like, very upset. They expected to have—
JS: Sir, I understand that. I—
JR: And they said that you’re not returning their calls and not offering refunds.
JS: I haven’t cashed their money! …
JR: Okay. You’re still doing classes, though, right?
JS: I’m just sitting here in my room.
JR: Well, I didn’t say this second. You’re still actively teaching classes.
JS: How do you know what I’m doing?
JR: You’re a business. You’ve got a dozen eyes on you. People call me all the time—“She’s teaching classes. She hasn’t given us our money back. We still don’t have a blue card” …
JS: Okay. All right. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t go and do that to me … The stress that that would cause for me right now, I don’t need any more.
JR: But all these people have a lot of stress and they’re calling me. Like, they’re not just making it up.
JS: My family life is more important. That’s stressful enough for me … Honestly, I will call you when it’s resolved and then you can call the people who have contacted you. How about that? …
JR: If it’s resolved, I can report that.
JS: Please do not do anything.
JR: I’m a reporter. This is a story of public interest.
JS: Not really.
JR: It concerns a lot of people.
JS: Twenty? Ten?
JR: And future people.
JS: No, not really.
JR: And current people in the class.
JS: Not really.
JR: I don’t think it’s even ethical for you to be offering classes. The problem isn’t resolved, right?
JS: I agree with you.
JR: You agree that it’s not ethical?
JS: Okay. I’m sorry, but please do not do that …
JR: How long is this supposed to take? What is the issue, exactly?
JS: Letters of completion have been sent to somebody so they can send it in. They just haven’t done it.
JR: They’ve been sent to a third party?
JS: Yeah.
JR: You should be able to do it yourself. Why aren’t you doing it yourself?
JS: I just told you I can’t right now … The insurance company won’t fill out the forms, so I’m trying to switch. And I’ve gone through…
JR: What do you mean, the insurance company won’t fill out the form?
JS: That’s just it: People don’t know the right information …
JR: But why won’t they fill it out?
JS: Exactly! And that’s why I went to another insurance company … All this stuff takes a long time to do … I’m working on that …
JR: All right. Let me know when you solve the problem. It’s been a long time. Too long.
JS: All right. I’m glad you’re interested. Thank you.
On Aug. 12, 2026, the Monitor emailed the state Department of Vehicle Services, requesting more information about the Northland Driving School. DVS Deputy Director Carrie Buchholz responded on Aug. 14.
Q. Are you aware of the situation with Northland Driving School?
A. Yes, the Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services Division (DVS) is aware of concerns involving Northland Driving School.
On Aug. 13, DVS directed Northland Driving School to immediately stop providing classroom and behind-the-wheel driver education instruction. DVS hand-delivered the notice to the school and posted a copy at the school’s location.
Northland is not currently licensed to operate as a commercial driver training school in Minnesota and does not maintain the insurance required by the state.
DVS also issued an official notice to Northland in February 2026 concerning fixing specific violations of the rules governing driver education programs.
Q. Do you know why completion certificates might not be getting turned over to DVS?
A. DVS has been actively reviewing the school’s compliance history. Because of this, we are not going to comment on individual student records or the details of the school’s compliance issues.
Q. Is there a place I can verify whether Northland Driving School is certified to conduct business?
A. Northland Driving School is not currently licensed to operate as a driver training school in Minnesota.
A driver training school may not be operated in Minnesota unless it has applied for and obtained a license from the Commissioner of Public Safety.
Q. I have confirmed that the instructor continues to teach classes, despite these issues. Is it legal for her to do this while these problems remain unresolved?
A. Northland Driving School has been directed by DVS to immediately stop providing classroom and behind-the-wheel driver education instruction.
As mentioned earlier, the school was notified of this official order in person on Aug. 13 and a copy of the notice was posted at the school’s location. Northland may continue only limited administrative activities necessary to wind down its existing operations. It is not authorized to provide driver education instruction or enroll new students.
DVS has notified the Duluth Police Department of the official order and the prohibition against providing driver education instruction without the required license.
The Northland Driving School was not open for business on Aug. 14 when the Monitor visited, and the DVS Cease and Desist Order was no longer taped to their front door.
