ATTENTION: -Firefighters and EMTs in the Southwest Technical College District. Well on the advent of the euphoria of the Badgers making it to the final four, I have some troubling news regarding Southwest Technical College. Southwest Tech offers 43 programs and serves all of Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Richland counties and part of Dane, Green, Sauk and Vernon counties. Our district is made up of 30 public K-12 school districts. Southwest Tech employs approximately 200 full-time employees and is governed by a nine member Board of Directors. The President is Dr. Duane Ford. I was speaking with Rita Luna who is the Coordinator of Emergency Medical Services, Fire Services Training. Rita politely informed me that after June 30, 2014, Kris Wubben will be most likely in charge of the Fire and EMS programs at Southwest Technical College. Rita said that she that could not go into details. After some investigating, it appears that Southwest Technical College has a budget deficit. I believe Rita is being laid off and the Fire and EMS programs are being merged with criminal justice. (I am still on a fact finding mission). The College has NOT announced to the public that is in a budget deficit, so this is an unconfirmed rumor. I am hoping for some public acknowledge and maybe I can be assisted by the press. I believe our area Fire and EMS Departments are going to suffer greatly if they are merged under the Dean of Criminal Justice. There is this question; how is a person with no Fire nor EMS experience going to administer Fire and EMS training? This is not a personal attack, but a philosophical question. The public safety instructors have a very heavy load now. I believe this will have a long term impact on the quality of emergency services in southwestern Wisconsin. It is my assertion that the Fire and EMS Departments represent the backbone of the district’s communities. I have served as a law enforcement officer, firefighter and EMT. I hold the volunteer Firefighters and EMT with great reverence as they are critical to our infrastructure. I am confused why the taxpayers spent a considerable sum of money on a public safety complex, now to eliminate the Fire/ EMS Coordinator? Is the District losing money? Is the tax money being spent wisely? So I ask you Facebook Friends, if you are Firefighters and EMTs in southwest Wisconsin, please ask questions and find out the facts. My parting points are: In my humble opinion Rita Luna has done a good job serving the Fire and EMS community. Please reach out to her and express your appreciation as you know she has put her heart and soul into building a solid program. Yes, Rita was my boss and I have served with her at Cuba City Area Rescue District, so I am biased. I am asking that you support her during this transition. If you feel that it is NOT a good idea to remove the Fire/EMS Coordinator, please contact Dr. Ford and the College Board to express your opinion to maintain the position regardless. Be informed first and remember civil discourse is the success of real democracy. PLEASE SHARE.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 07:21:41 +0000
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