The Agua Fria Union High School District governing board on Nov. 12 approved a resolution to create a medical academy and a partnered fire and rescue pathway, district staff said.

District presenter Mr. Nowlin described a three-pathway medical academy: (1) degree-seeking clinical programs (for RN, DDS, MD pathways), (2) clinical certificate programs (pharmacy tech, ultrasound tech, surgical tech, medical assistant) and (3) nonclinical health-care careers (health system administration, HR, finance and related support roles). He said the district studied exemplar programs during visits to San Antonio, Dallas and Los Angeles and plans a simulation lab and a public-facing clinic to give students hands-on experience.

"Health care careers is absolutely one of those areas that's a high wage, high need," Mr. Nowlin said, noting projected enrollment of about 800 to 1,000 students and partnerships with regional health providers and a medical consortium.

Mr. Nowlin invited Chief Rhodes of Buckeye Fire and a Rescue Ready representative to describe the fire and rescue pathway. Chief Rhodes said the pathway ties to a new fire station being built west of Verrado High School and is intended to create a local recruitment pipeline and early career exposure. "Start them early and, get them back in our system," Chief Rhodes said, describing the program as a recruitment tool.

Representatives from Rescue Ready said students would receive EMT training and fire certifications over three years, with program elements intended to allow graduates to apply directly to fire or EMS roles after high school.

After questions from board members about clinic operations and hands-on instruction, the board moved and approved the resolution. Recorded votes listed Silk, Colton, Landis and Acton voting yes.

Next steps noted by staff include continuing partnership development with local healthcare providers and advancing procurement for facilities and simulation equipment. A district-presented timeline included an anticipated opening in 2028; the transcript also records a referenced groundbreaking year that appears inconsistent with context (the speaker said "summer 2006," which likely is a transcription or verbal error and is not presented as an assured schedule).