Teacher of first course lacked certification
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
Copyright 2007 The Columbus Dispatch
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DELAWARE, Ohio — High-school seniors started their firefighting course again yesterday at the Delaware Area Career Center, this time with a properly certified instructor.
“I think we’re on the right track,” Superintendent Patricia Foor said.
She announced last week that 22 students must retake 240 hours taught by instructor Robert McKenna because his certification with the Ohio Department of Public Safety had expired. Some of the students decided not to retake the course now.
McKenna, a retired Newark assistant fire chief, is certified by the Ohio Department of Education, but did not have the required state fire-instructor’s certification.
McKenna’s certification expired in 2002. He was hired by the career center last fall.
Foor met with about 80 parents, students and community members Tuesday night to address the error and assure parents that the career center will cover the cost of repeating the course.
Some students had planned to take a professional-certification test in February but now won’t be eligible.
Bill Grubb, a Columbus Fire Division employee and part-time instructor, will lead the course now and McKenna will teach alongside him, Foor said. She added that McKenna is in the process of renewing his public-safety certification.
Seniors retaking the fire-training lab must postpone an emergency-medical technician course originally planned for spring semester.
The career center will cover the cost of the EMT course as well, Foor said.