Kettering schools seek to start firefighter certification program

March 21--Kettering City Schools is looking to offer a program that would enable students to graduate as licensed and certified firefighters.

"This is actually a response to a need and that's what we plan on doing through our career technical center," said Kettering City Schools Superintendent Scott Inskeep.

Kettering Fire Department is always looking to fill part-time firefighter positions, according to interim fire chief Tom Butts.

The department is currently looking to boost its part-time program from 30 positions to 50.

"We're currently hiring part-time firefighters that have a level I fire education and an EMT. And the program currently under review at the school system, will indeed do that," Butts said.

The program would help students launch their careers and advance their education should they choose to get higher firefighter certification, Inskeep said.

"They have to go two more years at Sinclair which then gives them their associate's degree which then moves them forward to be able to go and be able to hopefully get their 4-year degree if they choose to," Inskeep explained.

The fire science program would be offered through the Fairmont Career Tech Center, meaning the program would also be open to Centerville and Oakwood students since the districts have a career tech compact.

The district hopes to hire a project manager by fall 2016 to coordinate the program including collaborating with Kettering Fire Department, Washington Twp. Fire Department and Oakwood Public Safety, according to Inskeep.

"If we have the capability of donating some training time, some training facility time, or some apparatus equipment maybe in the future, we will definitely look at all of those aspects," Butts added.

The district hopes to have the fire science program up and running by fall 2017, according to Inskeep.

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