COLLEGE TO HOLD FREE SOCCER CLINICS IN PRESCOTT/PRESCOTT VALLEY IN AUGUST

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018

No clinics for children scheduled for east side of County on Verde Campus,  Sedona Center, Camp Verde or nearby high school soccer fields

Members of the 2018 Yavapai Soccer Team will be conducting a free soccer clinic at Mountain Valley Park in Prescott Valley on Saturday, August 11. The clinic will be held from 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. Boys and girls ages 5-15 are eligible to participate. No registration is required. If possible, participants should bring their own soccer ball. All participants will receive a special souvenir gift. 

Members of the 2018 Yavapai Soccer Team will also be conducting a free soccer clinic at Ken Lindley Field in Prescott on Saturday, August 18. The clinic will be held from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Boys and girls ages 5-15 are eligible to participate. No registration is required. If possible, participants should bring their own soccer ball. All participants will receive a special souvenir gift.

The College has not scheduled any soccer clinics for children on the east side of the County.

 

Categories : Soccer team

STRANGE GOINGS ON AT THE PRESCOTT VALLEY CENTER NURSING TRAINING LAB ONCE LIGHTS ARE OUT

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018

Employee video raises questions about who is using the new exam room beds to sleep on once the facility closes

Who has decided to sleep on the new exam room beds at Yavapai Community College’s Prescott Valley Allied Health facility after hours?  No one has the answer.

The question of overnight use of the training exam beds was triggered when an employee posted a video on YouTube explaining that she carefully cleaned the lab bed area including tucking in sheets and blankets after staff had finished working.  However, when she returned the next day, she found the area had apparently been slept in overnight.

Unanswered questions include:  Is the facility property secured at night?  Is there adequate night security at the facility?  Could transients be using the bed?  Tired employee?  Student? Homeless?  Ghost?  Or other. (The Blog has ruled out ghosts.)

You may view the employee’s video raising these questions by clicking here. 

You may also view the video below. (The employee made two videos.  The other is about lights being turned on after hours.)

Categories : Nursing, Prescott Valley Campus

CONSTRUCTION COURSE PREVIEW DAY JULY 25 AT CTEC

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, July 22nd, 2018

College holding seminar about its new construction program at 6 p.m.; no similar announcement or information about new construction program on Verde Campus or Sedona Center; College says there may be paid internships at CTEC

Yavapai Community College has announced it will hold what it describes as a “Construction Preview Day” Wednesday, July 25 at 6 p.m. at the Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC),  220 Ruger Road, by the Prescott airport. In its Facebook announcement, the College states that attendees should “Join us at Yavapai College’s CTEC for a free preview day to learn about YC’s new construction program and potential paid internships. A new or better career is calling. Answer! Get more information here: https://www.yc.edu/v5content/public-information/sub/construction/.

The College provided no similar announcement or information about “new construction” programs, if any, on the Verde Campus or at the Sedona Center. 

 

Categories : Career and Technical Education

COMMUNITY COLLEGE KICKS OFF 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON PRESCOTT CAMPUS WITH TALENT COMPETITION PROGRAM

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, July 22nd, 2018

County residents invited to compete for prizes but must apply by August 10

Yavapai Community College has invited residents of all ages to share what they are especially good at – unicycling, acrobatics, yodeling and more — for a chance to star in the inaugural “Prescott’s Got Talent” competition.  This is one of multiple anniversary kickoff events happening Saturday, August 25, on the Prescott campus. The show will take place at noon during a celebratory block party and will feature the top contestants advancing from preliminary auditions on August 16. The contestant application deadline is August 10.

The College states that the only requirements for potential “Prescott’s Got Talent” acts are the following: Contestants must be Yavapai County residents; the performance must be suitable for a family audience; and the performance must be less than five minutes in length, not including a two-minute setup period. The use of knives, fire, pyrotechnics, smoke effects or other dangerous material, which could cause injury to performers or audience members, is prohibited.

All ages are welcome to try out, although the parents of contestants under age 18 must sign a special application. Everyone who auditions will be notified of the results. There is no charge for entering. The top three finishers in the contest finals will earn prizes. 

For additional details about the “Prescott’s Got Talent” contest and a contestant application visit, 50th.yc.edu.

Categories : Event

JUDGE RULES IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT THAT REASONABLE JURY COULD FIND COLLEGE CONSPIRED TO BRING ABOUT PAYMENT OF FALSE CLAIMS

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, July 19th, 2018

Writes that juror could “determine that the Defendants created the JTED program and the combined AVT program” to get a “false record or statement” to obtain Government payment

As you may recall, the multimillion dollar lawsuit between the former director of aviation programs at Yavapai College, Dan Hamilton, and the College is headed for a jury trial.  If it is not settled, the jury will be asked to decide whether the College took sufficient steps to inform the VA about how they were calculating the 85/15 rule. Hamilton alleges that Yavapai College and its airplane program partner, NorthAire Aviation, violated the Veteran’s Administration funding rule that limits VA beneficiary enrollment to 85% in any program.  (In other words, the program must have at least 15% of its enrollees as civilians.)

In his most recent ruling the Judge touched on a number of factors not favoring the College.  One of them was a possible conspiracy.

According to Federal District Court Judge Murray Snow, “Hamilton has presented evidence that the Defendants were engaged in emails discussing “85/15 permanent fixes” in July of 2012.” He went on to write that: “There is also evidence suggesting that the Defendants knew there were concerns regarding the legality of the JTED program during that time period. Finally, there is evidence that during a meeting attended by representatives of both Guidance and Yavapai, John Morgan claimed that the Defendants “are shackled by the VA” and the 85/15 Rule. In his deposition, John Morgan admitted that one of the purposes behind creating the JTED program was to increase veteran eligibility in the combined AVT program.  These facts indicate that a reasonable juror could determine that the Defendants created the JTED program and the combined AVT program with the `purpose of getting’ the false record or statement to bring about the Government’s payment of a false or fraudulent claim.”

You may read Judge Snow’s entire ruling by clicking here. 620 ORDER on MSJs[5372]

Categories : Yavapai Community College

ACCOUNTANT AND REALTOR MR. ROB WITT SAYS EAST COUNTY MAY BE SHORTCHANGED BY THE COLLEGE AS MUCH AS $12 MILLION A YEAR

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, July 18th, 2018

His analysis shows that East County residents pay 30% of the taxes collected by the College and should get something around 30% in return for educational services; they get far less

Accountant and local realtor Robb Witt says the 73,000 residents of East Yavapai County may be short-changed $12 million a year by Yavapai Community College.  He arrived at his conclusion with the help of Tax Assessor Judd Simmons and budgetary material posted by the College.

 

Mr. Witt rhetorically asked the following in a statement supporting his analysis made to the Blog: “Is it reasonable for the tax payers of Yavapai County to expect services in return for the taxes they pay to support the community College?   According to Yavapai County Tax Assessor Judd Simmons, East County Tax payers provide over 30% of the taxes used to fund the college. According to the audited financial statements of the Community College, 30% of the total budget for the 2016-2017 school year equals $22,093,809.00, A recent analysis of these financial statement suggests the college is returning just $9,072,824 in services leaving $12,987,936.00. unaccounted for.” 

He continued: “If you pay taxes and feel like there should be some type of equitable return for your tax contribution you need to get involved.”

The Blog notes that Mr. Witt has asked the Community College administration for a response to his analysis.  He has not as yet received a reply.

Categories : Taxes

PAUL CHEVALIER OFFICIALLY FILES FOR DISTRICT #3 YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE GOVERNING BOARD SEAT

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, July 18th, 2018

Submits over 250 names on nominating petitions; needed only about 70

Paul Chevalier has officially entered the race for the Third District Governing Board seat on the Yavapai Community College Governing Board.  On Tuesday July 17 he filed nominating petitions with the County Superintendent of Schools containing over 250 signatures.  In this race, about 70 signatures are needed.

The Third District is described by the Governing Board web site as encompassing the following cities, towns and unincorporated areas of the Third District:

Big Park, Bridgeport 1 and 2, Clarkdale, Clemenceau, Coffee Pot, Cottonwood, Fir, Jacks Canyon, Jerome 1 and 2, Mingus, Orchard, Quail Springs, Red Rock 1 and 2, Red Rock East, Red Rock West, Verde Village, Western, and Wild Horse. 

 

Categories : Campaign 2018

BADLY NEEDED CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TRAINING FOR 73,000 RESIDENTS ON EAST SIDE OF COUNTY HANGING BY SLENDER THREAD

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, July 15th, 2018

No one knows impact Mingus Union High School consolidation may have on CTE at Valley Academy; College may be forced to halt major centralized CTE development until questions about V’ACTE’s future are answered 

“When the county attorney tells me, ‘I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know,’ that worries me.”

The same training opportunities offered by the College in Career and Technical Education to 120,000 residents of Yavapai County on the west side of the County is badly needed by the 73,000 residents on the east side.  The west side already has a ten-year jump on CTE development and is operating one of the most advanced training facilities in Arizona, if not the nation, at the Career and Technical Education Campus at the Prescott airport. The College has dragged its feet on east side CTE development for years and a consolidation issue raised this month involving Mingus Union high school may unexpectedly sound the death knell for major future centralized College driven CTE development on the east side of the County.

Consolidation would apparently result in a new school district and it is not clear that it would encompass VACTE  because of complex election issues.

In an article published July 12 in the Verde Independent and written by Bill Helm, County superintendent of Education Tim Carter said that “ Nobody anticipated that a JTED could be affected by the termination of a district.”  He added that he had  ““no idea” how the community’s voter-approved Joint Technical Education District would look should Cottonwood-Oak Creek and Mingus Union end up merging into one district.

Carter, who is supposed to be the expert in these matters, also is quoted by Kelm saying  that “I’m not giving anybody answers. I have no answers. We’re on unchartered ground. But everyone would be impacted to some degree.” Finally, he told Mr. Helm that “We’re looking for a collective solution statewide.  When the county attorney tells me, ‘I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know,’ that worries me.”

What a mess!

You may read Mr. Helm’s interview with Carter by clicking here.    

 

 

Categories : VACTE

COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS FALL

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, July 14th, 2018

Prescott Campus has two day celebration with high tea, alumni gathering, fun run, block party, talent competition, live music, children’s activities, food trucks and comedian Jay Leno;  Verde Campus celebrates with carnival, wine and free live music at the Pavilion; Sedona to feature free cooking classes and demonstrations for about six hours

Jay Leno to highlight anniversary on Prescott Campus on August 25.

Yavapai Community College will celebrate its 50-year anniversary this fall.  Celebrations are scheduled at on six different Saturdays between August and November 2018. A  two-day celebration will be held on the Prescott Campus featuring  a fun run, block party, talent competition, live music, children’s activities, food trucks and comedian Jay Leno.

 Prescott Campus Friday & Saturday, August 24-25

Prescott Valley Center Saturday, September 15

Career & Tech Edu Center Saturday, September 29

Verde Valley Campus Saturday, October 20

Chino Valley Center Saturday, October 27

Sedona Center Saturday, November 3

The celebration on the Verde Campus takes place from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. According to the Community College it features carnival activities; games, storytelling; yoga; Southwest Wine Center (SWC) & vineyard tours; ceramics; film make-up demos; free BBQ lunch; music and more.

10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m: Carnival activities; games, storytelling; yoga; Southwest Wine Center (SWC) & vineyard tours; ceramics; film make-up demos; free BBQ lunch; music and more

4:30pm – 6 p.m: – 50th Anniversary Reception: including a no-host wine bar featuring SWC wines and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

6 p.m. – 8 p.m: – Live music and dancing in the Pavilion.

Sedona will offer free cooking classes and demonstrations for kids and adults from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  OLLI and Community Education instructors will offer mini-classes of available courses and workshops. There will be a 50th Anniversary Reception from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

You may find out more about the celebrations by clicking here.

 

Categories : Event

COLLEGE HAS 32 JOB OPENINGS ON ITS EXTERNAL LIST

By R. Oliphant
Friday, July 13th, 2018

Need for special events coordinator at $50 to $64 thousand raises some eyebrows (internal posting only)

Yavapai Community College has listed 32 job openings as of July 13, 2018.  (See them by clicking here.)

However, a listing for a Special Events Coordinator job was made only internally. (See this job by clicking here.)  

 There have been some questions raised about the need for the position and a salary that ranges from $50,000 to $63,000 annually.  The questions being raised by some of the Blog readers include: (a) Is this a newly created position?  (b) If not newly created, who has been doing event planning over the past 50 years?

The Blog  is seeking answers these questions.

 

Categories : Employment issues
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