Masonry Magazine October 1997 Page. 11
Mason Training Programs and Contractor Salaries Associated with Mason Training Programs
Programs in both Houston and California have been quick to take advantage of their Community College connections.
Houston
MCAA member Paul Hoggatt explained that the Houston chapter runs its training program through a community college. Now in its second year, the courses are taught at night using college facilities. The college pays the instructor, but the chapter is allowed to select the instructor. All of the contractor sponsored students are employed full time during the day. Many contractors have sent tenders or fork lift operators. Hoggatt explained that sometimes contractors are reluctant to send their mason tenders to mason training programs because they do not want to loose them. However, they eventually realize that their most valuable mason tender can become a valuable bricklayer in a few years.
The Houston contractors run their program without a lot of support from outside sources. The cost is approximately $500.00 per student per year. Contractors pay the fees upfront. To encourage student accountability and performance, some contractors then withhold that amount from the students pay until the year is completed.
Southern California
The Masonry Industry Training and Promotion Fund of Southern California has been actively involved in the development and support of training programs. Within the last 12 months masonry classes have been set up in two community colleges around the area.
The colleges handle registration, provides the instructor and usually provide the space. The community colleges accept the MCAA's training series as the approved curriculum. In the case of the newest program in the Riverside Community College District, the school does not have any space to run the program so space is being obtain from Orco Block. According to a representative from the Masonry Industry Training and Promotion Fund major manufacturers are providing strong support in the way of finances and materials. The biggest problems they have in Southern California is that contractor awareness of the programs needs to be Continued on next page
Starting a Mason Training Program is Easy!
Starting and running an effective comprehensive mason training program is not difficult. Often times, mason contractors turn both control and thousands of local dollars over to some national training program only to realize that the contractors ended up developing and running their own program and some national organization became richer.
It's not difficult starting and funding your own program. In fact, in most cases, the cost to train one student on a yearly basis is often times less than $500 per student.... not the $3,000-$5,000 per student professed by other groups.
Here's how it works!
**Step 1**
Organize an apprenticeship training committee made up predominantly of mason contractors, as well as several supplier representatives and in most cases a student representative adds value to running an effective committee and program.
**Step 2**
Determine the type of program you want to run. Will it seek Bureau of Apprenticeship Training Certification from the U.S. Department of Labor or will it be independent?
**Step 3**
What curriculum do you use? The MCAA's Masonry Training Series (3 volume set) is the masonry industry endorsed program.
**Step 4**
Determine who will be your instructor. This is the key to your program. A good instructor will make your program great! Students anywhere, learn better when the instructor is motivated, a good speaker and knowledgeable.
**Step 5**
Where will you conduct your program? Many programs are taught in classroom space rented from local schools such as community colleges. Wherever your program is taught, you will need space for lab work where the apprentices can practice what they are learning. If a local school is not available, often times local suppliers have space that can be converted for a class.... and often times at no cost.
**Step 6**
Develop a program budget. To determine a budget and class tuition level, you will need to establish the costs to run your program. (see sample budget)
**Step 7**
It will help to set a budget and establish tuition level if you determine that you will offer first, second and third year classes. In most cases, large enrollment first year classes will subsidize lower enrollment third year classes.
**Step 8**
Seek supplier support. They will often times donate materials for your classes.
**Step 9**
If you can't afford an administrator to handle the daily administrative functions, appoint someone to serve that role.
**Step 10**
Gain commitment from each contractor to enroll an apprentice (or hire an apprentice).
**Step 11**
Conduct career days in local high schools to build your apprentice enrollment.
**Step 12**
Assign apprentices to work with journeymen who want to help in the training process. Find ways to help build the feeling that it's an honor to train an apprentice.
**Step 13**
Start your program today
Sample Apprenticeship Program Sample Budget
**Expenses**
Instructor Salary
($25 per hour x 200 hours)
145 classroom hours & 55
class preparation $5,000
**Books**
20 students x $75 per book $1,500
**Room Rental**
(complimentary donated space
to school room rental) n/c-$3,000
**Misc.** $500
**Total expenses**
(maximum) $10,000
**Revenue**
$600 per student x 20 $12,000
**Net Revenue** $2,000
MASONRY-SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 1997 11