Leaders from the City of Sacramento and the Natomas Unified School District last week introduced a new career-training program unlike any other in the region.
Called Public Safety Pathway, the program — set to launch in fall 2019 at Inderkum High School — prepares students for careers in public safety while also putting emphasis on core academic classes including English, history, science and math.
Public Safety Pathway held its kick-off event at Inderkum on Sept. 20. Students were invited to check out police and fire equipment and vehicles — including a helicopter — and ask officers and firefighters on hand questions about careers in public service.
“This new Pathway program is the first of its kind in Northern California,” said Councilmember Angelique Ashby, who attended the event and played an integral part in bringing the program to Sacramento. “Students on one of the largest and most diverse campuses in our city will have an opportunity to work toward careers in public safety.”
To implement the program, Ashby collaborated with Sacramento Police Deputy Chief Kathy Lester and Sacramento Fire Assistant Chief Kim Iannucci, as well as school officials.
“Through this effort we achieve many citywide goals: workforce development, diversifying our public safety departments, investing in youth and partnering with schools. It’s a tremendous project and will serve our city well,” Ashby said.
Members of the Sacramento Police and Fire Departments will participate in Public Safety Pathway, sharing industry knowledge through hands-on exercises and project-based lessons. They also will act as mentors for students in the program.
In the end, program graduates will be college and career ready, physically fit and have a solid foundation for a public service career, officials said.
“It is a wonderful partnership between Natomas Unified and the City of Sacramento,” Ashby said.
For more information on Public Safety Pathway, go to: natomasunified.org/ihs/public-safety-pathway/