TOLEDO, Ohio — At Bowsher High School, students have the opportunity to take PS419, a class that provides real life skills to students interested in joining the public safety workforce after graduation.
“This program has helped the city tremendously, because I also help recruit for the city of Toledo Fire Department, city of Toledo Police Department, sheriff's department, Lucas county 911, and ProMedica, who has their own police department," Andre Tiggs, the PS419 Public Safety Instructor said. "With ProMedica, they have their law enforcement, police officers, or just security guards."
PS419 was created in 2021 in a partnership between the city of Toledo and Toledo Public Schools. Since then, more than 150 students have participated in the program. In class, students learn skills like CPR, and they can leave with credits that carry over into their college education.
There are four students in the program this year that are now eligible and qualified to apply for the fire academy as soon as they graduate.
Alijha Allen is a senior at Bowsher High School. As a participant in PS419, Alijha has enough credits and training to jump into a career right after graduation.
“There's a lot of vocational programs in TPS. I know this one helps a lot," Alijha said. "It sets you up, gets you a jump start on many of the jobs they offer. Like I'm already set up. I'm 17, still in high school and I'm already set up to be in the academy this year. So, if you don't know what you want to do, just look at it. Come stop by."
And for students who wish to join the police department at age 21, the program helps secure college and job opportunities that keeps them on track after they graduate.
"I have multiple paths," Alexander Hinds, a high school senior, said. "I can work at ProMedica or corrections at the jail. So those are my two paths, and I'm leaning more towards corrections now, because it's a closer step to police and that's my plan for the next four years."
With the help of donations from the Toledo fire and police departments, the program now has equipment that is used by every safety department in the country, including vehicles, training, materials and uniforms.
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