Critical need for affordable student housing; major economic development; centralized Career and Technical Education Center and improved cooperative relationship between East Valley and College; overarching theme was “it’s finally time to invest in the Verde Valley: Take some chances.”
The Community College held a Verde Valley public forum on the Verde Campus in Clarkdale August 17, 2018. The forum was led by College Vice President of Community Relations Rodney Jenkins and Dennis Garvey, Lifelong Learning/Community Education Director for Prescott Campus. There were about two dozen interested citizen observers from throughout the Verde Valley and fourteen guests invited by the College who were the only ones who could participate in the forum. The guests included the superintendents, mayors and others from throughout the Valley.
The following is a list of items discussed by the guests during the forum and the Blog’s view of how they were received.
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Education is the College’s highest priority, which is intimately linked to the critical need for Economic Development. No disagreement.
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There is a critical need for student housing in the Verde Valley. No disagreement.
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There is a critical need for a centralized Career and Technical Education Center in the Verde Valley. All superintendents agree on this issue.
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There is a need for the College and the communities and school districts to partner together more effectively. Everyone agreed on this issue.
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There is an overarching need to seriously develop or “redevelop” community college education in the Verde Valley. All appeared to agree.
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There is strong opposition in some quarters to the College’s continued used of the Governing Board Carver model of policy governance. No disagreement.
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There is a need to develop internships in the Verde Valley. No disagreement.
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There is concern that the College has been foot-dragging on CTE development, with it making what are perceived as excuse after excuse not to move forward on CTE development. No disagreement.
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The College was applauded for its recent efforts at economic development training at Camp Verde. No disagreement.
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There is concern with the decreasing number of students in the schools in the Verde Valley. No disagreement.
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The Yavapai-Apache Nation stands ready to invest in the Community College if it will work with the nation and offer courses needed by its students. Out of frustration with the College it has turned to NAU for assistance. No disagreement.
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Having heard the voices of the Valley at this forum, the College should return with a plan to meet the issues raised and submit it to the invited group for further discussion. No disagreement.