INFLUENTIAL YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION 2017-18 MEMBERSHIP STILL DOMINATED BY PRESCOTT AREA CITIZENS

Based on population and concept of “fair representation by population,” the Verde Valley should have from 7 to 9 members on the Board; it has 2

There has been little change in the residence of the members of the newly announced Yavapai Community College Foundation 2017-18 Board from earlier Boards. (You may click here to review the biographies of all the current Foundation members.)

Its composition is hardly representative of the County. While the East side of the County accounts for more than 70,000 residents and the West side about 140,000, the Board membership is 25-2 in favor of the West side of the County. Furthermore, the College administrators, despite what some believe is a direct conflict of interest, remain on the Board.

There are two District Governing Board members, Pat McCarver and Steve Irwin, who are listed as Foundation Board members (liaisons).  Traditionally, there is only a single member of the Governing Board who is “elected” as liaison by the Governing Board.  However, apparently because he recognizes the enormous influence the Foundation has on the direction of the College, Steve Irwin asked to be appointed to the Board (never done before.) Both are members of the West County voting bloc that controls the District Governing Board.

There are 27 members of the Foundation Board with seven Foundation executive committee members including Dr. Penelope Wills. Only a single member of the executive committee, First Vice President Valerie Wood, is from the Verde Valley. Of the 20 remaining directors, only one, Joan Meyers, President, Friends of the Southwest Wine Center is from the Verde Valley.

The Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation and is independent from the College. It is enormously influential in terms of the direction of the College. Therefore, you find such amenities intended for citizen use (and student use) on the Prescott campus such as a professional seven court tennis complex, indoor heated swimming pool and therapy pool, an excellent childcare center and the 1,100 seat Performing Arts dinner theater. No other campus or Center in the County has College facilities like these although all County taxpayers and student tuition pay for  them on the Prescott Campus. It is argued that the Foundation has been politically instrumental in the development of these facilities on the West side of the County.

A booklet reporting on the Foundation activities handed out at the May meeting to those in attendance may be found by clicking here.