Sylvania Schools proposes two‑year Fire/EMT career‑tech program with township fire department and Owens Community College

Sylvania Schools on March 8 outlined plans for a new two‑year Fire/EMT career‑technical program that district officials say would allow students to earn Fire 1, Fire 2 and EMT certifications before high school graduation and pursue paramedic credentials through Owens Community College. The program is designed to run at a working fire station and use a donated or leased training tower and props.

Steve Rubanski, identified in the meeting as the district’s career readiness coordinator, said fall 2024 YouScience assessment results showed law and public safety among students’ top aptitudes and roughly 200 students — about one third of a grade — expressed interest. "We have enough students interested also," Rubanski said, arguing the numbers justified adding the pathway. He described med‑tech as the district’s largest career‑tech program and said the Fire/EMT pathway would expand opportunities for students who otherwise would remain on wait lists.

Representatives from Sylvania Township Fire Department told the board the department would host classes at Station No. 4 and provide ride‑time and hands‑on instruction; the department also described a plan to make the facility a community training resource. An Owens Community College representative said the college supports the partnership and would provide an articulated path so students could pursue paramedic certification within about nine to 10 months after high school.

The district described program logistics: juniors would take firefighting and Fire 1 courses, and seniors would take Fire 2 and EMT. Officials said students who complete the program could enter the workforce after graduation or continue toward paramedic certification at Owens. The presentation emphasized that the district would still provide education for students who cannot meet final licensing requirements but that employment with fire departments typically requires passing department physical ability tests.

Program costs presented to the board included student fees estimated between $100 and $1,000, largely driven by required NFPA medical physicals and insurance coverage. The district said Perkins funding (about $130,000 annually) and weighted career‑tech funds (roughly $14,000 per student for this Level 2 program) would offset operational costs; one‑time equipment and gear replacement was estimated at about $105,000 every 10 years. Charter/instructor support through a career center was estimated at about $13,500 per year, to be offset by weighted funding.

Presenters set an initial enrollment cap of 24 students based on instructor availability and certification requirements; they said additional instructors would be required to expand the class size. Board members asked about pre‑tests and physicals; district staff said NFPA physicals would be required to enter the program and that the district could offer practice components and training to help students prepare. "If cost is an issue, have conversations with us and we can see what we can do," Rubanski said when asked about student affordability.

The board did not take a formal vote on the program during the meeting; presenters said they will continue planning with partners and report back to the board.