Since there was a thread about the cost of this class earlier today, I asked Cheryl Kim, one of the instructors who teaches the tech class, why the class is so expensive ($950 + $75 Safe Kids cert fee). Fortunately for us, Cheryl's work at SBS USA is never done, so she checks her email often and she got back to me quickly (thanks, Cheryl!).
The fee covers primarily staff time, including instructors and clerical support. In the late 90s, several agencies priced it out at $1000 per student, so that's where they've kept the fee ever since. As was mentioned in the earlier thread, instructors are usually paid through their jobs and are with law enforcement or other agencies or hospitals (or like me, someone with an interest in CPS). SBS USA uses a combination of employees and non-employees who are paid with money raised through memberships, grants or sales of items like brochures, CDs, license plate covers, etc. Sometimes there are scholarships, but right now, there is no corporate sponsorship for scholarships available meaning you have to pay for your own class. Most participants' employers pay for their class.
Hope this helps to clear up confusion. I can assure you that after working on the board of my non-profit Safe Kids, SafetyBeltSafe, as a non-profit, cannot turn a profit or they would be shut down by the IRS.
The fee covers primarily staff time, including instructors and clerical support. In the late 90s, several agencies priced it out at $1000 per student, so that's where they've kept the fee ever since. As was mentioned in the earlier thread, instructors are usually paid through their jobs and are with law enforcement or other agencies or hospitals (or like me, someone with an interest in CPS). SBS USA uses a combination of employees and non-employees who are paid with money raised through memberships, grants or sales of items like brochures, CDs, license plate covers, etc. Sometimes there are scholarships, but right now, there is no corporate sponsorship for scholarships available meaning you have to pay for your own class. Most participants' employers pay for their class.
Hope this helps to clear up confusion. I can assure you that after working on the board of my non-profit Safe Kids, SafetyBeltSafe, as a non-profit, cannot turn a profit or they would be shut down by the IRS.