BPS Cuts the Ribbon on New Fire Academy CTE Program
Brevard Public Schools added yet another program to their Career and Technical Education (CTE) roster this school year, with the addition of the Firefighting Academy. On Friday, Aug. 12, a Ribbon Cutting was held to celebrate the kick-off of the new program.
The Fire Academy is located at Palm Bay Magnet High School (PBMHS), where they already offer 9-1-1 dispatch and criminal justice programs. Any student dreaming of entering public service is encouraged to research the offerings at PBMHS.
BPS was awarded $980,000 for use on this project. $680,000 went towards fixed capital outlay, and $300,000 went towards operations.
Operations dollars were used towards the purchasing of items such as firefighting hand tools, firefighting helmets, fire gloves, suspenders, boots, stretchers, mannequins (adult/child), patient beds, CPR sets (adult/child/infant masks), dummies, backboards and straps, collars, blood pressure kits, splints, SCBA tanks, a fire truck, ladder, fire-rated helmets, fire hoses, and much more.
The fixed capital outlay dollars were used for the conceptual budget and included items such as demo and concrete, structural steel, cabinetry, insulation, doors and windows, acoustical ceilings, flooring, painting, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and design fees.
The contractor on the project, Wharton-Smith Construction Group, and the BPS Project Manager, Chris Gerber, brought the concept to life, with the newly completed facility. Eastern Florida State College, local Fire Departments, and many Brevard County municipalities were all thanked for their efforts in getting the new program implemented.
In addition to the Firefighting Academy, Brevard Public Schools offers over 40 CTE programs ranging from Hospitality Management to HVAC. These programs help place students directly into their specific job areas. For more information on CTE, call 321-633-1000, ext. 11380.
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