Richmond Public Schools and Richmond Fire Department are teaming up to provide free CPR classes for certification to teachers, a collaboration initiated by the Richmond Education Association, the union representing the division’s teachers. 

RFD C.A.R.E.S allows teachers to learn CPR, first aid, response and emergency skills to teachers that can “extend beyond the classroom,” said RFD Chief Jeffrey Segal in a May press release.

Cory Adkins, an REA board member and recently former chair of the union’s membership committee, told The Richmonder that the committee is in charge of figuring out ways to recruit and keep members in REA, and the idea came up in one of the group’s meetings.

The Virginia Department of Education mandates teachers to be CPR certified in order to become licensed personnel, and classes can run upwards of $150. 

“Because of the budget cuts that are happening, especially with teachers’ healthcare, we needed something to reduce the financial burden on teachers,” she said. 

A similar partnership took place in 2019, as a result of former Mayor Levar Stoney’s Teacher Advisory Council that included teachers from RPS schools. The former mayor eventually disbanded the council two years later, and it is unclear when the classes stopped.

Adkins said it's the first time that REA is picking back up the effort since 2019.

“The fire department responded rather quickly,” she said, referring to when she reached out at the beginning of this year. “They were very enthusiastic and they were like it sounds like a great idea.”

While intended for teachers, REA initially wanted and is hoping that the classes will extend to non-licensed personnel too, like cafeteria workers or custodians. 

When asked if she thinks it’ll last longer than the first partnership from 2019, Adkins said RFD is passionate about making it happen. 

“It’s something they are also passionate about.”

All attendees at the division’s new teacher orientation this week will be offered the course, and all teachers are eligible for the course.

Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org