Coronado to Launch Fire Science Academy in Partnership with EVIT and Scottsdale Fire Department

Coronado High School plans to launch the Coronado Fire Science Academy next school year in a partnership with the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) and the Scottsdale Fire Department, Principal Splittik said on SUSD Spotlight.

The program will let participating juniors and seniors earn six industry certifications — Fire Science 1 and 2, emergency medical technician (EMT), hazardous materials, wildland firefighting and first aid/CPR — while attending classes on the Coronado campus rather than traveling to an EVIT campus, Splittik said.

Splittik said the academy grew from discussions with EVIT leadership, including Dr. Wilson, and from the district's existing relationship with Scottsdale Fire. "We are launching the Coronado Fire Science Academy, which is a unique partnership with EVIT and Scottsdale Fire Department that's gonna allow our students to earn industry certification, and we're gonna help build the next generation of firefighters at Coronado in the heart of South Scottsdale," Splittik said.

The program is open to any junior or senior who attends a Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) high school and to students from neighboring districts, Splittik said, adding the openness is intended to support regional workforce development and community ties.

Students will be taught on campus by an EVIT instructor in a classroom currently being retrofitted at Coronado. Splittik said the school is also seeking community support to cover the costs of uniforms, turnout kits and certification test fees so that expenses do not bar participation.

Cadets in the program will be paired with an active-duty Scottsdale Fire Department mentor to provide hands-on perspective on firefighting and community response, Splittik said. "Our cadets are actually going to be paired with a Scottsdale Fire Department mentor. And this mentor is an active duty firefighter who will allow this relationship to foster and develop that will showcase kind of what it's like to be a firefighter," she said.

Student Niam Pacheco, who will be eligible to participate, said the certifications and community service aspect attracted them to the program. "I'm interested in the opportunity, that it's gonna bring me and the certifications. And I like to help people, so going into firefighting will fulfill my need for helping people," Pacheco said.

Splittik said enrollment began in the fall preceding the launch and that the program was designed so students could participate without sacrificing other campus programs. She noted alignment with Jobs for Arizona Graduates (JAG) and sports-medicine pathways at Coronado, allowing students to pursue both JAG and Fire Science through scheduling.

Community interest has already produced unsolicited donations, Splittik said, citing two community members who reached out after the Los Angeles fires to support the academy. For families and students seeking information, Coronado will have a presence at the school's Future Dons Night on March 20, and the Coronado website includes a contact link for the Fire Science Academy.

Principal Splittik and the student emphasized mentorship and community service as central aims. "Success will look like our inaugural group of cadets who are already changing the way we engage with our communities," Splittik said.

No formal board action or district vote was recorded during the program discussion on the podcast. Implementation items noted in the program rollout include classroom retrofitting to host an EVIT instructor, continued enrollment efforts, and fundraising to defray student costs for uniforms and certification exams. For more information, Splittik directed listeners to the Coronado website; the SUSD Spotlight episode also referenced susd.org/spotlight as a resource.