November 12, 2015 – Mayor William Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety joined the Pittsburgh Public Schools and Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) to announce a special partnership designed to expose local students to careers in the public safety sector. The City of Pittsburgh has donated a “retired” fire truck to support the District’s renewed Emergency Response Technology Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Supported by a grant of up to $300,000 from the American Federation of Teachers Innovation Fund, the new program is set to launch at Pittsburgh Westinghouse 6-12 for the start of the 2016-17 school year.
“Today is representative of how City of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers can work together to create a pipeline to meaningful careers for the youth of our city,” said Mayor William Peduto. “The District’s new Emergency Response Technology CTE program also creates a prime opportunity for our Public Safety personnel to connect and engage with the youth in our communities.”
This past June, the American Federation of Teachers announced a grant of up to $300,000 to the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers to support a teachers union – school district – city partnership to open the program to train students for careers as police officers, fire fighters and emergency medical technicians. The union will also train guidance counselors on the benefits of CTE.
“The PFT was proud to pull together a table of stakeholders to discuss the possibility of securing a grant to expand CTE programs in the city of Pittsburgh and take the lead in securing the funding from the American Federation of Teachers,” said PFT President Nina Esposito-Visgitis. “We understand the vital importance of strong CTE programs that provide students with the opportunity to pursue academics as well as career or trade interest, allowing them to earn advantages before and after graduation.”
On June 24, 2015, the Board of Pittsburgh Public Schools voted to reopen the public safety career and technical education program as the Emergency Response Technology Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program for the start of the 2016-17 school year. On August 26, 2015, the Board decided that Pittsburgh Westinghouse 6-12 would be home to the renewed program, once housed in former Peabody High School. The program, open to students from across the city, will be a three-year program, starting in 10th grade.
“We are grateful for the support we have received from both the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers for our Emergency Response Technology Program that will provide a pathway for our students interested in careers in the field of public safety,” said Superintendent Linda Lane. “Today exemplifies our belief, outlined in the Whole Child, Whole Community plan, that the Pittsburgh community can come together in a cross-sector collaborative way to ensure post-secondary success for all of Pittsburgh’s children.”