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Board approves high school fire and EMT pathway so graduates can be job-ready
Summary
Trustees voted 6–0 to adopt a new Derby High School career pathway that will offer Fire 1 and EMT coursework through partner colleges, allowing students who complete the sequence to be immediately hireable as entry-level firefighters/EMTs.
The Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a new Fire and EMT pathway at Derby High School that will offer Fire 1 coursework and EMT certification through partnerships with WSU Tech and Butler Community College.
Dr. Putnam Jackson presented the pathway and introduced BJ Parsons, chief training officer (Derby Fire Department), who described local workforce needs. “The fire service took a hit back when COVID happened... the pool that we draw from to hire from, we're kind of experiencing a lack of qualified people,” Parsons said. He said the pathway aims to develop local talent and show students career options in fire and emergency services.
District staff said students who meet the pathway requirements and are 18 at graduation will be eligible to take EMT and Fire 1 certification testing and could be hired directly into entry-level fire or EMS positions upon successful completion. The district noted the certification testing fees are covered through Career and Technical Education funding streams (referred to in the meeting as CTE and Excel funds).
Board members expressed strong support for the program and asked implementation questions about age and certification testing. Staff said students must be 17 when they begin the senior-year sequence and 18 by graduation to complete certification testing. Trustees approved the adoption 6–0.
Ending — Staff will proceed with program implementation and noted local fire agencies plan to collaborate on recruitment and post-graduation training.
