College certain to use terms such as “little need,” “no interest,” and “growing west side population” as excuses for not investing in east side of County via the Campus Master Plan | Camp Verde not mentioned so far
If the current development charts produced by Yavapai Community College consultants are any indication, the prospects for major investment on the east side of the County over the next decade by the College appear pretty dim. That is not good news for the almost 70,000 residents living on the east side of Mingus Mountain.
The charts strongly suggest that programs such as nursing and allied health will be expanded and enhanced on the west side of the County. There is no indication that similar enhancement will occur on the east side, despite the fact the College publicly claims that it has 600 applicants on a waiting list for its nursing program.
The Career and Technical Education campus at the Prescott airport appears to be in line for new electric car programs and development. The 3D construction program on the west side will be expanded while nothing appears planned for the east side.
A new media studio is planned for the west side, which will complete the Prescott total take-over and transfer of the once thriving film school located at the College’s Sedona Center.
Improving the athletic fields and indoor space for the burgeoning athletic programs appear to have been given priority on the west side of the County. In addition, student dining areas will be enhanced on the west side only. (There is a recommendation that the cafeteria at the Verde Campus be reopened.)
Possible truck driving training and collaboration on use of the Sedona Performing Arts Center are the only two projects that clearly appear on the horizon for the east side of the County. They will cost little.
Camp Verde is so far not mentioned in the documents the Blog has been able to obtain.
It would seem that the input at public meetings on the Verde Campus had little impact on the consultants. At those meetings there was strong support from east side residents for expanding the nursing program, creating housing for students and possibly faculty, and enhancing the small Career and Technical Education Center. None of those east side views are reflected in the data so far.
One can hope that the Blog is wrong. But take a look at the charts prepared by the consultants and posted on the College Master Plan website – click here to go to the Master Plan website.
