Use of Local Junior Colleges For

Park In-Service Training

By
Frank Borror

In-service training is recognized as an essential factor in the efficient administration of any organization. This is especially true in departments dealing with maintenance and operations.

No matter how well trained a man is for his particular job he must constantly be retrained to keep pace with advances in technology. New machinery is constantly being developed that is more complex and requires more sophisticated tools and methods to operate and maintain. New supplies are constantly being introduced that need special instruction for their use. New materials are being incorporated into buildings that need special care and maintenance.

Recognizing the need and benefits of in-service training unfortunately does not automatically create a good training program. If this were the case every organization would have a top flight program. Most training programs fail to reach the desired level, not because of the lack of recognition of need and benefits, but rather because of the logistics involved in carrying out such a program. In order to carry on any in-service training program, it is necessary to have instructors, classroom and laboratory facilities, and a time schedule that does not conflict with the normal necessary operations of the department.

Most departments have great difficulty in establishing a training schedule because of pressing matters that must be attended to in order to meet time tables and schedules for programs. Few departments are blessed with individuals who have all the skills necessary to instruct; even fewer have facilities adequate for proper instruction.

The junior college concept with its emphasis on total community involvement provides park districts with an excellent and inexpensive means of coping with the problem of in-service training. The establishment of programs for occupational development to meet the needs of all citizens of the community as well as providing academic courses to meet college and university requirements is recognized as a primary func-

Maintenance employees keep up to date with new developments in this Illinois Central College class in Lawn and Grounds Management.	Mechanics of the Peoria Park District maintenance department take advantage of in-service training in Engine Tune-up offered at Illinois Central College.

Illinois Parks and Recreation    4    May/June, 1971

Peoria Park District maintenance staff practice welding in laboratory class at Illinois Central College.

tion of the local public junior college throughout the state.

A public junior college has the resources necessary to provide specialized training at a nominal cost. Illinois Central Junior College, the local junior college in the Peoria area, offers classes to residents of the junior college district at a cost of $7.00 a semester hour or less than 60 cents per hour of instruction.

During the spring of 1970, the Peoria Park District urged employees to enroll on a voluntary basis in night courses offered at the local junior college. Admission and tuition costs were paid by the park district and, if the enrollees successfully completed the course, they were given compensatory time with pay equivalent to the time spent in class.

Thirty-three park district employees enrolled in seven courses that included: drafting; use of power tools; automotive tune-up; welding; lawn and grounds improvement; soil testing; and selection, care and maintenance of ornamental trees and shrubs. Twenty-eight completed their courses.

This spring courses are offered in care, operation and maintenance of lawn and garden tractors; use and application of electricity; internal combustion engines; spark ignition engines; and custodial methods and practices. Twenty-one men are enrolled.

Employees have been very enthusiastic and have requested that the program be expanded to include both semesters instead of just the spring. One employee has requested permission to complete a full junior college program in ornamental horticulture.

At the completion of this spring semester, Peoria Park District maintenance men will have received over 2,200 hours of instruction under the junior college program at a cost of slightly over $1,000 to the district. At this price, a department cannot afford to pass up the opportunity provided by the local junior college to help with the park district in-service training program.

Frank Borror is Maintenance Superintendent for the Peoria Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation    5    May/June, 1971