To some, it appears Sigafoos is attempting to totally marginalize McCasland as a Board member; his effort also appears to have as its goal maintaining iron-fisted control of all Community College matters in the hands of the west-county voting bloc no matter how small
Recall that at the January session of the Community College Governing Board, the west-county representatives voted as a bloc to reject Deb McCasland as the Board secretary for the coming year. Instead, they placed both the Chair and the Board secretary’s position in the hands of west-county representatives. McCasland had more experience and seniority as a Board member that Steve Irwin; however, she was rejected.
At the February meeting, representative Paul Chevalier wrote to the Board members of his concern over the fact the east-county had been shut out of any Board leadership positions for over a decade. It is seems pretty clear after the February meeting that the west-county representatives cared little about his observation.
Also, at the February meeting, representative Deb McCasland made a request that she be appointed co-liaison for the Board to the College Community College Foundation. The Board liaison serves as the point of contact for information review, input, and approval prior to Board receipt. Board liaisons attend and participate in all meetings and conference calls of their assigned committees.
Chair Sigafoos, who holds the sole power of appointment, said it was not possible to appoint McCasland. Rather than appoint McCasland, who has a long history of working with the Foundation before retiring, he said he had two requests that the two members from the west side of the County remain. (The Blog assumes the request came from west County representatives McCarver and Irwin who now are the two Board liaisons and sat with their mouths tight-lipped during this part of the meeting.)
Rather than appoint McCasland because of her experience and seniority as a Board member, and relieve one of the existing members of the position, Sigafoos lamely explained that if he appointed McCasland he would have a quorum at the Foundation’s monthly meetings. And he couldn’t do that.
Sigafoos appeared to be heading toward appointing Paul Chevalier and relieving McCasland of her current liaison position to the Arizona Association of Community College Trustees (AACCT). The AACCT, it should be noted, meets at most once or twice a year and is as lightweight of an appointment that you can get. When Chevalier refused the appointment, Sigafoos back-tracked and appointed McCasland.
It is suspected that Sigafoos wanted to leave McCasland with no liaison position at all so as to further marginalize her as a Governing Board member.
For those unaware, the Foundation meetings are viewed as major monthly social gatherings on the west side of the County with community leaders attending who reside primarily in Prescott and Prescott Valley. It is often during these meetings and under the influence of these powerful west side civic leaders that the future course of Yavapai College is charted. Persons like Board member Steve Irwin see the monthly meetings as a rare opportunity to develop contacts with community leaders that can no doubt help his real estate business.
Because of the ruling by Sigafoos, McCasland is essentially barred from attending any Foundation meetings.
Just another insult to the residents of the east side of Yavapai County.
You may view the discussion and ruling by Sigafoos on the video clip below.