PARKING LOT, EXPANSION OF CENTER CONTINUES

Maybe you don’t recall that on October 10, 2015 the College had a dedication ceremony. As a part of that ceremony it announced that the renovation to CTEC was “5.2 million.”

An investigation by the Blog discovered that during the annual audit the actual amount was found to be over $1 million more than reported by the College.  The auditor put the amount to be spent at $6,383,893. Here is how they’re continuing to spend your primary tax money and you don’t have any say in it.

The photo below shows the parking lot at CTEC.  Rather than repair and resurface, the College has so much money that it can dig up the lot and completely redo it.  Wow.

The College also has so much money it can build an addition to CTEC.  Here is the latest on the addition.

Just released Audited Financial Report discloses underestimate

Reproduced below is  what the College said on its web site about the grand reopening of CTEC in October, 2015.  According to the College announcement, the CTEC renovation cost was  $5.2 million.

However, in the June, 2014-15 Audited Financial Report, released to the Governing Board in February, 2016, the total cost associated with CTEC was $6,383,893.  It appears from this data, which includes commitments already paid and commitments remaining to be paid, that the College underreported the total CTEC renovation cost to the public by more than  $1 million dollars.

Moving Mountain Institute JTED Administrative Offices to CTEC Campus

The College’s commitment to work with the Mountain Institute JTED on the West side of the County is strong and getting even stronger.  Its commitment to work with the Valley Academy JTED (V’ACTE) on the East side of the County is poor and little progress is being made to significantly improve that relationship or invest in it.

For example, the College announced at the February 9, 2016 Board meeting that it had agreed with the Mountain Institute to locate its administrative offices at the College’s Career and Technical Education Center at the Prescott airport.  This will strengthen the Career and Technical Education training opportunities of high school students on the West side of the County, which is already very strong.  It will do nothing for students on the East side of the County in the Verde Valley.

When asked about the College plans for V’ACTE (East County JTED), Clint Ewell provided a vague suggestion that something might be in next year’s budget and that discussions were occurring.  Penelope Wills said defensively the last meeting with V’ACTE had been cancelled at the request of V’ACTE.  You may view the brief discussion regarding V’ACTE by clicking here.

Saturday, October 10 CTEC is grand reopening for fast growing campus

The College has announced that on Saturday, October 10 there will be a grand re-opening of YC’s technical education campus at the Prescott airport.  It has spent millions of dollars in property tax money coming from throughout the Verde Valley and the remainder of the County for new upgrades and renovations.

According to the College, Technical education “is one of our fastest growing offerings, prepares students for well-paying careers and helps boost the local economy. Facility renovations include new classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices, instruction areas and environmental enhancements.” 

The College will also celebrate the opening of the new Rural Center for Entrepreneurship incubator, which is housed at CTEC rather than the Verde Valley.

Unfortunately, only high school students from the West side of the County attend CTEC.  It is also too far for many in the Verde Valley and too dangerous a drive at times over snow covered and sometimes fog shrouded Mingus Mountain.