At a ribbon-cutting at Atlantis Charter School in Fall River, school officials, state lawmakers and community partners celebrated the launch of the EMS Tritons Academy, a senior-year program designed to allow students to graduate with Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.

Robert Beatty, executive director at Atlantis, introduced the program and welcomed attendees including Mayor Paul Coogan, state lawmakers, and public-safety leaders. "We're incredibly excited for and proud of this group of students," Beatty said, noting the region's cross-sector cooperation among K–12 schools and higher-education institutions.

Jen Santos, the medical academy instructor who led development of the program, said the academy aims to blend classroom and real-world workforce training. "With E. M. S. Trains Academy. Our students will not only walk across the stage with their high school diplomas, but with EMT certifications in hand, ready to step into the health care, public safety, or wherever their calling may lead them," Santos said. Santos described two decades in EMS and law enforcement and said Atlantis supported her proposal to create the EMT program for seniors.

State Rep. Stephen Ouellette presented a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives congratulating Atlantis and its students on the ribbon cutting. The citation text, as read at the ceremony, extended "sincerest congratulations" and was signed by the speaker of the House, Ronald Mariano, and other representatives.

Sen. Michael Rodricks framed the academy as consistent with state policy encouraging career-technical education. "This is amazing. It fits right into what we're trying to do," Rodricks said, noting the Commonwealth's investments in career-technical initiatives and broader higher-education and early-education programs.

State Rep. Steven Zarrows recounted a 2018 incident in which police Officer Sean Gannon was killed and his K9, Nero, was critically injured. Zarrows said lawmakers later changed state law—commonly called "Nero's law" at the event—so EMTs and paramedics must take training on treating police and military dogs and are authorized to provide first aid and transport them to veterinary hospitals. "Because of Sean Gannon, because of Nero, because of the elected officials ... we worked together and fixed a wrong," Zarrows said.

Mike O'Sullivan of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce presented a certificate of recognition for the academy's grand opening dated Oct. 27 and praised the program's role in preparing students for jobs in the community.

Beatty closed the ceremony by thanking partners and drawing attention to the six inaugural EMT students. He told the cohort they are "setting the standard for future students" and said the program will expand the pool of local public servants and health-care workers.

No formal votes or policy actions were taken at the ribbon-cutting; the event was a ceremonial launch and recognition of the new training program.