YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUMMER 2018 CLASS SCHEDULE SHOWS 99 CLASSES LISTED IN PRESCOTT, 17 ON THE VERDE CAMPUS AND ONE IN PRESCOTT VALLEY

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, May 30th, 2018

College Administration appears to continue emphasizing and developing the west side of the County educational opportunities to the detriment of those outside the Prescott area

The disparity in development of post-secondary education between the west side of Yavapai County and the East side is obvious to the Blog when the summer 2018 college class schedule was  reviewed.  It listed summer classes that were scheduled as of April 4, 2018. It  listed 99 classes scheduled for the Prescott Campus on the west side of the County.  The same publication listed 17 classes to be offered on the Verde Valley Campus.  There was one class listed for Prescott Valley and no classes listed for Chino Valley.

The Blog is concerned that the 50 year focus of creating post-secondary educational opportunities for residents on the west side of Yavapai County to the detriment of the 70,000 residents living on the East side of the County continues despite enormous efforts by East County folks to convince board members to better distribute resources and opportunities.

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Categories : CURRICULUM

SPARKS FLY AT GOVERNING BOARD MEETING WITH WILLS AND MCCARVER JOINING FORCES TO SHUT DOWN BOARD DISCUSSION INTO HANDLING OF ALLEGED ATHLETIC DRUG USE INCIDENT

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, May 26th, 2018

McCasland smells cover up and rattles Wills and McCarver 

The question of whether President Wills was properly complying with a Governing Board directive to enforce certain Campus policies sparked a somewhat vitriolic response at the May meeting from Wills and Board member Pat McCarver.  McCasland expressed her concern saying that she had an obligation to look into possible criminal violations if they occurred on Campus. She also said that she was disappointed it “took her action to shed some light on what was going on.”  Wills insisted she had done all that was required regarding the incident and had imposed appropriate sanctions.

Among questions by McCasland was one involving the absence of police logs showing concerned parents had visited and alerted police to the possible drug use issue. Why, after there had been several visits to the police about the incident did their logs not show the contacts, McCasland asked. Wills responded that she should talk to the police.

Wills said that she didn’t appreciate McCasland’s handling of the matter and encouraged her to speak privately (secretly out of public view) to her in the future about such matters.  Wills also said that the College was imposing “all the different sanctions that will go into place” and improve procedures.  She did not elaborate. 

McCarver jumped to Wills aid during the discussion saying that McCasland was unprofessional by continuing to pursue the matter publicly during the Board meeting. She also urged McCasland to meet with Wills privately (secretly out of public view).

The six minute back-and-forth during the May Board meeting is captured on the video below.

Categories : Drug investigation

MOTHER OF GRADUATE CHARGES COLLEGE RECRUITED STUDENT ATHLETE IMPROPERLY

By R. Oliphant
Friday, May 25th, 2018

Claims drug usage and other issues related to the student; also claims President Wills snubbed her son on graduation stage

Heather Tippett, the mother of a Yavapai Community College athlete who was graduating, charged that the College recruited a player via a scholarship who became involved in drug usage and other issues.  She alleged that the recruit should never have been allowed to join the student athletes at the College. 

She also alleged that President Penelope Wills ignored her son during graduation ceremonies implying that he was being publicly humiliated  by the president because of his alleged whistle-blowing.  The mother asked that the Board “take a look at”  the Prescott graduation ceremony on video to verify her claim.  

The video of the Prescott graduation ceremony can be found at https://www.yc.edu/ (Last visited Sunday, May 26, 2018). Please click here.

The mother’s allegations about drug usage and the President’s behavior, which she made to the Governing Board at the May meeting, follows in full.

Categories : Drug investigation

MCCARVER, HARRIS TO HAND PICK PERSONS TO SIT ON 17 MEMBER SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR NEW PRESIDENT

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, May 24th, 2018

Ensures strong voices from the east side of the County are muffled; Board rejects considering request from McCasland to be third member on the Selection Committee

The West County Voting-Bloc ensured that strong voices from the East side of the County would be muffled or little heard, if at all, when the 17 member Search Committee is assembled. This was accomplished in two ways: First, West County Voting-Block leader Pat McCarver will gather the potential nominees to the Committee.  She will then be joined by Connie Harris to help select the final membership.  McCarver’s long experience on the Governing Board will easily overshadow any suggestion that Harris, a novice, may make that McCarver does not agree with.  

Second, a suggestion from Deb McCasland that she or  another Board member be added to the Selection Committee was not seriously considered. Therefore, the power is retained by McCarver.

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Categories : Search Committee

SIGAFOOS, MCCARVER CONTINUE TO CONTROL SEARCH COMMITTEE

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, May 24th, 2018

Harris votes to break tie and snubs McCasland who sought second seat on Search Committee

The Sigafoos, McCarver West County Voting-Bloc leaders continue to control the composition of the search committee to select a new Yavapai Community College president.  At the Thursday, May 23, 2018 meeting of the Board their alliance made certain that a strong voice from the Verde Valley was not heard on the Committee.

During the Thursday meeting, the question of a second Board member to join  the Search team was raised and Sigafoos nominated Connie Harris.  Harris has closely aligned herself with Sigafoos, McCarver and President Wills during her short tenure representing a portion of East County residents.

Representative Deb McCasland objected and during discussion argued that she could more effectively represent the interests of East County residents.  McCaslin pointed out that she has been twice elected by voters on both sides of the County, has served four years on the Board, has worked with the Community College in some form beginning in 1970, knows the history of the Community College and has excellent connections with the residents and leaders in the Verde Valley.  She argued she would also bring a type of continuity to the Search Committee.

In sharp contrast to McCasland, Harris was appointed and began serving on the Board only a year and five months ago.  She had not lived on the east side of the County even a year before her appointment.  She has not been involved with the east side community to any significant degree since the appointment.  Moreover, she may not be elected for the first time in November 2018.

Steve Irwin joined with McCasland in opposing the Harris appointment.  Harris did not extend any courtesy to McCasland after hearing her arguments and broke the tie vote on the Board by casting a vote to appoint herself.

Despite McCasland’s superior background and experience she would bring to the committee, the political control remained in the hands of Sigafoos and McCarver.  McCarver, of course, was appointed as chair of the selection committee at the previous Board meeting on motion by Sigafoos.

Some observers concluded that the entire episode was orchestrated by McCarver and Sigafoos to help Harris with her upcoming election.

Categories : Search Committee
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GOVERNING BOARD SCHEDULES SPECIAL MEETING FOR MAY 23 AT 1 P.M. ON PRESCOTT CAMPUS

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, May 20th, 2018

As of Sunday, May 20 the purpose of the meeting has not been posted; Transparency is not one of the Governing Board’s strengths

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. on the Prescott Campus – Building 32-119, 1100 E. Sheldon Street, Prescott, AZ.

The actual purpose of the meeting has not appeared on the Board’s website as of the evening of Sunday, May 20.  It is suspected that this meeting will be held to hire a consultant to seek out candidates for President Penelope Wills position. It may also be used to reaffirm that the leader of the West County voting bloc, Pat McCarver, will be appointed to head the search committee.  (The Blog notes that the decision about who to appoint as chair of the Presidential Search Committee was not specifically stated in the Agenda for the May 2018 meeting. Nevertheless, Chair Sigafoos moved to appoint her.  His motion was approved 4-1.)

The holding back of the agenda for the May 23 meeting aids the Board in keeping the public in the dark until the last possible moment about its reason.

Categories : Meeting Notice

PAUL CHEVALIER ANNOUNCES HE WILL BE A CANDIDATE FOR THIRD DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD SEAT

By R. Oliphant
Friday, May 18th, 2018

Offers experience and in-depth understanding  of local Yavapai Community College educational issues

Paul Chavlier

Mr. Paul Chevalier has announced that he will be a candidate for the Third District seat on the Yavapai Community College Governing Board that will be filled by voters in November. That seat is currently held by Ms. Connie Harris. She moved into the District less than a year before she was appointed to fill the Third District vacancy created when Mr. Al Filardo resigned in protest  at the end of 2016.

Chavalier is a Navy veteran and graduate of both the Columbia University School of Business and the Columbia University School of Law.  He worked with Carter Hawley Hale Stores Inc., once the largest department store chain on the West Coast, and Montgomery Ward for almost 30 years before retiring to Sedona.

He has chaired the Sedona Community Foundation and the Sedona Art’s and Culture Commission.  He has been active in many other community events for several years.

Chavalier gained in-depth knowledge about the College when he chaired the seven-member Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee. The Committee was chosen by local politicians to represent the post-secondary educational views of residents living on the East side of Yavapai County. The Committee worked tirelessly for two years and generated almost two  dozen recommendations to improve post-secondary Community College educational opportunities for East County residents.   

The Committee chaired by Chavlier was shut down before it had completed its work in an almost secret Governing Board retreat in September 2016 by the three members on the Board who represent West-County Districts (vote was 3-2).  The shuttering resulted in an outcry of unfairness from throughout the East side of the County. It stunned residents, triggered newspaper editorials, angered East County Community College Governing Board representatives, and upset local politicians. 

 

 

Categories : Election 2018

REPRESENTATIVE MCCASLAND SPEAKS OUT IN “MY TURN” COLUMN

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, May 17th, 2018

Challenges need for property tax rate increase; increased spending on wasteful projects; tuition increase and Board ignoring voters

Second District Yavapai Community College representative Deb McCasland listed her concerns with the actions of the Governing Board at the May meeting in the Verde Independent  newspaper “My Turn” column May 15.  Among the many concerns was the majority on the Board essentially snubbing the public who spoke, all of whom opposed the increase.  She wrote that it was difficult for her to understand “how the other board members can disregard the numerous comments from concerned citizens.”  

 She also wrote of her concern that the tax rate was increased at a time when the College really didn’t need the funding.  Among other reasons a tax increase was not needed is the fact the College just received over $4.4 million in the sale of property to the town of Prescott Valley.

McCasland lamented the huge decline in student enrollment and the use of primary property tax money to fund capital projects.  She observed that in the next few months the 70,000 residents of the Verde Valley will have an opportunity to bring about change with the appointment of a new College president.

You may read her entire column in the Verde independent by clicking here. 

Categories : Budget, Taxes

COTTONWOOD JOURNAL EXTRA EDITORIAL SAYS “COLLEGE TAX BUMP WILL NOT SERVE VERDE VALLEY STUDENTS”

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, May 16th, 2018

Editor slams West County Voting-Bloc for “happily” rubber-stamping proposal to increase Taxes

Christoper Fox Graham

In an editorial of Wednesday, May 16, 2018, the managing editor of the Cottonwood Journal Extra, Christopher Fox Graham, slammed the three members of the Yavapai Community College Governing Board who approved the tax rate increase at the Board’s May meeting.  The rate increase will generate an estimated $896,100 annually. Those members voting for the proposal were Steve Irwin, Pat McCarver, and Chairman Ray Sigafoos.  East County representatives Deb McCasland and Connie Harris voted against the increase. McCasland provided several reasons for her opposition to the rate increase. Harris did not explain why she opposed the rate increase.

Graham argued that merely reopening the Sedona Center with two programs hardly justified the increase. He pointed out that the residents on the East side of the County have been battling for years for a return of the tax revenue they give the College that is retained for building projects on the West side.

Graham also asked: “Why would the College need to bilk taxpayers yet again for this paltry amount ($896,100) when it just got $4.4 million from the town of Prescott Valley for the sale of some college-owned property?”

“Fortunately, Wills announced she will be retiring at the end of the calendar year,” wrote Mr. Graham. Adding insult to injury, the Board voted 4-1 (McCasland dissenting) to give Wills a $3,000 bonus.  Graham commented that “if you’re wondering where increased taxes are going, they’ll be heading to Wills ‘personal bank account.

You may read Mr. Graham’s editorial when it is posted on line at the following site (click here).

 

Categories : Taxes

CHEF JEN JACKSON IS NEW DIRECTOR OF CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY PROGRAMS IN SEDONA

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, May 16th, 2018

After national search, and after acting as interim Director since August of 2017, Jackson receives appointment

Yavapai Community College announced on May 15, 2018 that Chef Jen Jackson is the new Director of Culinary and Hospitality programs. Chef Jackson had served as the interim Director since August 2017.  From reports the blog has received from students, faculty, and others, Jackson is an outstanding selection!

In its press release, the College wrote the following:

“Born in the Deep South in Mississippi, but living the majority of her adult life in Portland, OR, Jen gravitates to her small town upbringing and love of southern food. She always says, `I am French trained with a Southern twist.’ Jen attended Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, OR and The Culinary Institute of America in both Hyde Park, NY and San Antonio, TX. She is a Pro Chef II certified Chef from the Culinary Institute of America. Last summer, Jen completed a Hospitality Management course through Scottsdale Community College and has continued to further her education in the Hospitality Industry.”

“Before coming to Yavapai College, she owned and operated “Natura Spice Cooking Studio” in the Village of Oak Creek where she taught over 200 cooking classes to the public.  Before moving to Sedona, Jen was a Chef Instructor at St. Mary’s Food Bank/Community Kitchen in Phoenix, AZ. A program for disadvantaged adults to give them a second chance and provide jobs.”

“In her “spare” time, she loves to travel with her partner, hike with their three rescue dogs, go “glamping”, and of course cooking and entertaining.  Jen owned and operated one of the first Food Trucks in Portland, OR back in 2004, “before it was cool,” she says.”

“With her thirteen years in the industry, Jen is excited to use her knowledge, passion, and experience to continue to build the Culinary and Hospitality programs in Sedona and we are happy to have her.”

Categories : Culinary Arts, Sedona Campus
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