Money flowing like water; huge amount of funds going to Prescott campus
The Penelope Wills’ administration is continuing to pour money as fast as it can into various construction projects throughout the College system. However, the largest amount of money by far is for, you guessed it, the Prescott Campus.
The efforts by the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee and the two Verde Valley representatives on the Governing Board to slow down and require the administration to justify these multi-million dollar projects have been for naught. Wills’ has never had her hands on so much tax money she can spend without interference from the Board.
Here is the latest information on current building projects as of December 29, 2015.
Building 29 on Prescott Campus
Demolition and utility location is underway for the Regional Economic Development Center, Building 29 as design nears completion. Construction documents are expected to be complete on December 16. Construction is scheduled to begin January 11 and continue through June 1, 2016.
Building 31 on Prescott Campus
Site utility location and other civil engineering functions are underway for Lifelong Learning, Building 31. Lifelong Learning staff will be moving to Building 1 Room 200 on December 16 and will return to Building 31 on or about June 1, 2016 which is when construction is scheduled to be complete.
Building 15 on Prescott Campus
Programming of Building 15 is scheduled to kick-off in March of 2016. According to the College budget, it will spend over $5 million on renovating and construction on this facility.
Ramadas
Chino, CTEC and Prescott Valley will be receiving ramadas for use as outdoor seating. Work is underway to construct the foundations for these units with assembly expected to be complete and ready for use by the end of January.
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS
Buildings 29/30/31 on Prescott Campus: Pavement Rehabilitation – In design. (Actually most likely capital expense disguised as preventive maintenance.)
Sedona Center Stucco Repair/ Painting – Completion November 13
Sedona Center Roof Replacement – November 16 through December 15
ADA Parking Lot Modifications at the Verde Valley Campus – In design–probably capital project disguised as preventative maintenance.
Smith Group continues control
The Verde Valley Campus and Prescott Campus Wayfinding and Open Space Committees continue to secretly work with SmithGroup/JJR to develop a plan for open space improvements for fiscal years 2016 through 2020.
Opposition to rushing construction that came from the Verde Valley Governing Board representatives had no effect on Prescott. Wills’ raced ahead with the projects despite a request from Verde Valley representatives on the Governing Board for a strategic plan justifying the millions of dollars of expenditures. She was consistently supported by the three-member West County voting block on the Governing Board. 
The $5 million dollar request is in part the culmination of a specific effort on the Prescott campus to develop music courses while ignoring music development in the Verde Valley. For example, by the fall of 2014 the Community College listed 87 separate courses of music instruction and 16 areas of music concentration that students might consider. However, of the 87 courses, 85 are taught only on the Prescott campus; two music courses existed at the Sedona Center for Arts and Technology campus. None appear online.
As a part of the the ten-year plan, Supai Hall, which is located on the Prescott campus, is to be demolished. After that, the first phase of the 10-year plan to be completed in its first three years calls for expending $6.75 million for a new residence hall on the Prescott campus.
