PORT ALLEGANY — Success at last.
After more than two years, the effort to revitalize local emergency services by offering appropriate first responder courses through the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center, the Essential Emergency Services Training Advisory Board has reached its goal.
CTC Director James Young made the announcement after the program of study for homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services received the necessary approvals. “At the state level,” Young said, “career and technical programs are approved for local delivery through a process developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This process includes forming an advisory committee to identify the need for the program and prepare the delivery model that meets local needs.”
Locally, the OK has come from the Superintendents Advisory Council of Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9, the CTC’s administrative agency. The entire IU9 board of directors is to vote on the new curriculum at its next meeting on May 21.
Beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, students from McKean, Potter and Cameron county high schools will be enrolled in this course, which has gained the backing of community and business leaders.
The search for a faculty member has begun, according to Young. Applicants must have at least two years of paid experience in firefighting, EMT or law enforcement. Applications will be accepted until June 22. For more information, contact Young at the CTC.
Active planning for such a course offering at the CTC goes back to January 2016. At that time, Dana Spittler, a volunteer fireman in Smethport, said, “Since many of the CTC graduates find employment in this area, the objective of this curriculum is to prepare our youth to fill the void caused by the aging members of the fire and other emergency services, as well as preparing the younger generation for employment in the real world.”
Vice-Chairman Carol Duffy, a McKean County commissioner, added, “The lack of highly qualified first responders is a critical rural/regional problem, which affects each one of us at every level, and this concern needs be a priority.”
She said the goal is to training youth to pursue a career or expand into another field, while being engaged in community service.
According to a resolution adopted on April 16, 2018, the General Advisory Board will continue to seek funding from agencies in and beyond the service area to include municipalities, foundations, grants, corporate sponsors and other organizations.
