Londonderry students praise hands‑on firefighting ELO; board hears program update

LONDONDERRY, N.H. — Students in the Londonderry High School Fire Safety ELO told the School Board on Nov. 4 that the semester‑long program has given them hands‑on training at the town fire station and increased their interest in public‑safety careers.

The program, run by Lieutenant Macaron and district staff, began Aug. 28 with eight juniors and includes online coursework plus practical exercises. Student leaders and instructors showed a video of the program and described activities at the fire station, community demonstration days and classroom work.

"This program has definitely helped me grow my leadership qualities and my leadership skills," said Summer Butler, a squad leader in the ELO. Ashley Prew, another student participant, said the station visits and hands‑on practice made the job "more memorable and valuable." Students thanked Ms. Sullivan and Lieutenant Macaron for their time and the school board and town for supporting the program.

Parent Kevin Smith, who spoke during public comment, said his son — who could not attend because of football playoffs — had become "so excited for a class" and praised instructor Tony Mack and the administration for enabling the course. "Hats off to Tony Mack, who has done an outstanding job," Smith said.

Administrators said the pilot has drawn strong student engagement and noted the fire department has integrated the interns into community safety events. Board members asked about program scale and whether similar ELO options could be expanded; school leaders said discussions are ongoing and that funding and staffing will be reviewed during the budget process.

No formal vote was required. Board members and administrators highlighted the ELO as a model for future career‑connected learning opportunities and said more structural planning — including pay/compensation for external partners and budget line items — will be needed for expansion.