Partnership Yields ROI for City of Edmond

For more than a decade, the City of Edmond and Francis Tuttle Technology Center have partnered to strengthen the skillsets of city staff through two unique curriculum and training programs.

Published November 19, 2019
Machining

CME Shop

CME students are able to experience hands-on training
“We continue to benefit from the City’s strong partnership with Francis Tuttle,” said City Manager Larry Stevens. “The programs created have been more effective and well-received than any training program I can remember.”

For more than a decade, the City of Edmond and Francis Tuttle Technology Center have partnered to strengthen the skillsets of city staff through two unique curriculum and training programs.

The first program focuses on cross-training the city’s public works employees, including new entry-level employees and experienced specialists, while the second program helps supervisors become more effective in performance management.

“We continue to benefit from the City’s strong partnership with Francis Tuttle,” said City Manager Larry Stevens. “The programs created have been more effective and well-received than any training program I can remember.”

When the city sought a cross-training curriculum for employees in 2006, they discovered it didn’t exist. After a series of professional introductions and brainstorming sessions, a partnership was forged with Francis Tuttle to create and implement a first-of-its-kind training program.

The Edmond program, endorsed by the U.S. Department of Labor, is the only one in the nation to help public works staff attain “journeyman” or “specialist” status upon completion.

“Our goal was to cross-train employees so instead of having 150 employees licensed to do a very specific and limited area of work, we had 60 employees licensed across the public works spectrum,” said Keith Stewart, the city’s Field Services Superintendent.

Edmond Mayor Charles Lamb said Francis Tuttle’s training has benefited the city and its residents in multiple ways.

“With the higher-skilled personnel in Field Services, Edmond is able to complete repair and maintenance projects more quickly and efficiently than before,” he said. “These skills have been especially evident in emergency situations with major sanitary sewer damage from storms.”

The training has ultimately improved employee recruitment and retention by providing opportunities for advancement and higher earnings. Entry-level, trainee instruction takes around six to eight months to complete and it takes around four years of training for staff to earn Technician status. From there, journeyman and specialist positions are possible. City public works specialists earn between $50,000 and $65,000 annually.

The training series involves eight, three-hour sessions on a gamut of topics related to supervision, coaching, and teamwork

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