Fire Commission approves five‑year training MOU with City College of San Francisco

The San Francisco Fire Commission on Nov. 13 unanimously approved a five‑year memorandum of understanding between the San Francisco Fire Department and City College of San Francisco to expand and formalize joint firefighter training.

Mark Corso, director of finance and planning for the department, told the commission the extension would codify a pilot that began earlier in 2019 and allow the department to add courses and training via future addenda. Corso said the department "took in approximately a net of approximately $70,000 in revenues" from the initial January academy, and that those funds would be reinvested in the training program.

City College representatives described student outcomes under the pilot. "The certificate of achievement has passed the state and will be active on January 1," Associate Vice Chancellor Edith Kuiper said, noting recruits can apply for the credential and that academy coursework also counts toward an A.S. in fire science at City College. Monique Pascual, director of instructional service agreements, said billing and enrollment processing has run "very smoothly."

Commissioners praised the collaboration. Commissioner Ken Cleveland moved to approve the agreement; Vice President Francie Covington seconded and the commission voted in favor without recorded opposition.

The MOU will go next to the City College Board of Trustees; under the agreement the department and college will continue work to equate in‑service hours to college units so additional courses can be added. The commission recorded the motion and approval during its public session on Nov. 13.

The commission placed the MOU on the record as an agenda item and approved the motion during the meeting; no fiscal contingency or vote tally beyond the unanimous verbal ayes was recorded in the meeting transcript.