GOVERNING BOARD MEETS IN SECRET EXECUTIVE SESSION TO SET GOALS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT BUT REFUSES TO INFORM COUNTY RESIDENTS OF THOSE GOALS FOLLOWING SECRET MEETING

Only information provided County residents after Tuesday’s meeting  was a Board motion stating that it “accepts the goals” it set during the secret meeting

Robert Oliphant, Editor

EDITORIAL:  In the shadows of secrecy, the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board met on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, with a significant agenda item—establishing goals for Dr. Rhine in the upcoming academic year. The veil of confidentiality shrouding the meeting would be comical except for its importance to County residents.

Following the closed-door secret executive session, a motion was passed, stating, “We accept the goals that we all set for Dr. Rhine and look forward to a prosperous 2023-2024.” A harmless  statement  concealing a disquieting truth  about what was actually decided..

It is of concern that there was a total absence of any prior discussion about setting goals in the public domain. It is as if the residents of Yavapai County have been left in the dark, their curiosity about the health of the College and the goals set for the College’s chief executive is being met by the Governing Board with a resounding silence. The secrecy that surrounds these objectives denies County taxpayers any insight into the very essence of their Community College’s aspirations for the coming year.

The consequences of this secrecy extend beyond mere curiosity. It fundamentally undermines the principles of transparency and accountability that should be the bedrock of any publicly funded educational institution. Without knowledge of the goals established, residents are rendered impotent in their ability to assess the achievements and progress of Dr. Rhine as the College’s president.

In essence, the result of the Governing Board’s secrecy erases any semblance of public accountability. The very residents who support Yavapai Community College with their hard-earned tax dollars are denied the right to participate in the essential process of evaluating their College’s leadership.

Moreover, the lack of transparency has a domino effect. It renders residents incapable of determining whether the Governing Board itself is effectively executing its duty of setting goals and providing effective direction for the College. The College, which is funded to the tune of over a hundred million dollars a year by taxpayers, deserves an open and participatory governance process that safeguards the public interest.

Hiding these goals behind closed doors not only robs residents of their rightful involvement but also obscures the path Yavapai Community College is intending to take over the coming year. What were these goals, and how do they reflect the aspirations of the diverse communities in the County? These questions remain unanswered, lingering in the shadows, casting a pall over the institution’s integrity.

It is imperative that the Community College  uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and public engagement. The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board must recognize its responsibility to the residents it serves, for it is they who entrust it with their resources and their aspirations.