This academy will boost DeKalb Tech's enrollment numbers as well as ensure that Newton County and Covington Fire Departments can hire highly
qualified firefighters to keep us safe.

Training new fire recruits is an expensive endeavor for all fire departments as for approximately the first year of their hire departments must pay salary and benefits to untrained individuals. With county budgets in crisis all over the state, fire departments simply cannot afford to hire recruits even when they are badly needed.

The 20-week program is inexpensive as far as costs for post-secondary certification and degree programs go and makes graduates far more attractive to potential employers. Of course better training in public safety means we can all rest easier at night.

And, it is worth mentioning in these tough economic times that if a fire department is ranked at higher levels because of higher quality service then home owners insurance rates go down. That's certain something we would applaud.