Cushing Man's Class Idea Becomes Reality
By Bettie Wilson
Stillwater NewsPress Staff Writer
Stillwater NewsPress
August 1992
Gene Maitlen talked about a dredge operator school when he first opened the VMI Cushing dredge manufacturing plant in the fall of 1989.
At that time he commented how difficult it was to get dredge operators because there was no place to train them, except by people in his plant which markets dredges nationally and internationally.
A first for the nation may be the result of a unique partnership with his firm, Central Area Vo-Tech at Drumright and the City of Cushing, Maitlen's idea has come to pass.
"I'm not aware of any other schools to teach dredge operations," he said in an earlier interview, at that time remarking on the big pay operators can ask..
The first 40-hour program of a Mini-Dredge operator training school will open at the Cushing City Lake on Sept. 21, 1992 and continue through September 25th.
Maitlen's VMI Inc. will supply the machines and instructors in a program that will teach Central Vo-Tech students about safety, dredging hydraulics, maintenance, troubleshooting, operation and mobilization and demolition.
"Because of the Clean Water Act which has passed by Congress and with the public's concern for cleaning up the environment, the prospects for our kind of equipment has increased dramatically," Maitlen said.
Dredges will be used for cleaning our sewage lagoons, and also cleaning up hazardous waste and spills, he predicts.
"Our equipment is also ideal for cleaning out contaminated ponds, to accommodate wildlife," Maitlen said.
Approval to use the City Lake for classes was given by the Cushing City Commission.
This "on water" training will give the students practical, hands-on operating experiences, said Jim Potter, director of business and industry services for Vo-Tech.
"We think there is job creation potential in this project and are pleased that the three-way partnership can bring this to reality," he added.
At the time of the first interview and trip through his plant located in of of Cushing's Industrial Parks, he commented on the need for dredge operators.
"But there aren't any schools as such and so we have formed this partnership with Central Area Vo-Tech in Drumright and the city of Cushing," he said.
It appears to be an everyone win situation, the city will get some of the silt out of the lake; men will learn how to operate the equipment and Vo-Tech will have another successful school.
"And this just could be the nation's first school," Maitlen said.
The class will be limited to eight students with a $300 tuition payable to Central Vo-Tech. Those who enroll in both classes, this and a Hazardous Waste Operating School, wil get a $50 discount in the tuition.
The Hazardous Waste or (Hazwoper) course will begin September 28 thru October 1, 1992 for an additional 40 hours of training. This course is for participants who need certification to work in hazardous waste sites.
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