cover
TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Division Chief Jason Demas
DATE: April 5, 2024
SUBJECT:
Resolution ratifying payments for the current invoice (Waubonsee invoice #S0033580, $78,105.26) for paramedic course for firefighters currently enrolled for this quarter and approval for $81,897.74, which is an estimate of what will be used for the remaining of the year, to be paid to the Waubonsee Community College for paramedic training in 2024.
PURPOSE:
Approval of payments is required to pay for firefighters currently going through Paramedic training. This is a partnership with the Waubonsee Community College and Delnor Hospital. This includes tuition, books, testing, classroom and online training.
BACKGROUND:
Prior to 2020, the State of Illinois has 14,000 plus certified paramedics statewide. In January 2023, the State of Illinois certified paramedics was down to only 3,500. This shortage of paramedics caused out of the box thinking. The Aurora Fire Dept needed to get certified paramedics educated or hired to keep the same level of care for our citizens. The Aurora Fire Department decided to become part of the solution and develop and entered a partnership with Waubonsee community college, our local partner to run the first paramedic class in the State of Illinois to be delivered in a firehouse setting.
In January 2024 the Aurora Fire Started 21 firefighters and 2 fire cadets in the paramedic program hosted by Aurora Fire Dept at Station 8.
DISCUSSION:
The primary purpose of the paramedic school is to prepare firefighters for a career in emergency medical services. The Paramedic Course is the training for these firefighters to become certified National and Illinois paramedics. This certification requires recruits to successfully complete a 7-month comprehensive medical course. This course includes hospital clinical rotations, field clinical time, and a full capstone program prior to taking the national level certification test. Other paramedic programs have either been unable to meet our standards or have been unable to grant us the number of slots needed to train our recruits annually.
The total amount to send these 23 paramedic students to Waubonsee Community College for paramedic training in 2024 is approximately $160,000. Break down for each student is $7000, this includes tuition for all four required class over two semesters, testing, books, online interactive software and all required needs for clinical rotations
These monies have already been allocated in our 2024 budget. Our 2024 training budget is $297,000.00 in account 101-3033-42.42-01. $160,000.00 is allocated to pay for paramedic school.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
If the Paramedic Class training costs are not approved, it will prevent us from maintaining paramedic staffing levels and negatively impact public safety.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Authorization of the ratification and approval of paramedic training expense for a total amount of $160,000 for the calendar year 2024.
cc: Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution ratifying payments for the current invoice (Waubonsee invoice #S0033580, $78,105.26) and approving the following amount of $81,897.74, an estimate of what will be used for the remaining year, to be paid to the Waubonsee Community College for paramedic training in 2024).
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, The exponential growth of the city has increased the need for highly trained paramedics to give the citizens the highest quality of care; and
WHEREAS, There is a shortage of State of Illinois certified paramedics; and
WHEREAS, The Aurora Fire Department entered a partnership with Waubonsee Community College and developed the first paramedic class in the State of Illinois to be delivered in a firehouse setting; and
WHEREAS, The Aurora Fire Dept has the approved plan to increase operational response capabilities in the southeast corridor by putting medic unit 12 into service these paramedic class graduates will help staff that medic unit; and
WHEREAS, Funding for the 2024 paramedic program is within account 101-3033-422.42-01.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: A resolution to ratify current and approve future invoices for the 2024 paramedic program, estimated to be $160,000.00, to Waubonsee Community College.