WILLS GETS SALARY BOOST AND NEW CONTRACT

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, May 13th, 2017

SALARY NOW ESTIMATED AT $278,811—Highest paid bureaucrat in Yavapai County

Yavapai Community College President Penelope Wills received a $5,000 increase on her salary at the May 9, 2017 Governing Board meeting.  The Board voted 4-1 to extend her contract for one year and raised her existing salary by $5,000. Board Representative Deb McCasland voted against the extension and the $5,000 raise.

If press reports regarding her salary are correct, her annual salary is now almost $278,000. She is believed to be the highest paid bureaucrat in Yavapai County. The increase came despite her less than stellar record. That record includes the following:

(1) Lost over $1 million in tuition revenue in the last two years because of the continuing slide in student enrollment.

(2) Allowed the aviation program to essentially collapse.  

(3) Presided over an estimated 4% drop in overall student credit enrollment in each of the last two years.

(4) Failed to settle multi-million-dollar lawsuit with whistle blower who headed the aviation program before he was fired and now alleges the College failed to comply with VA regulations.

(5) Opposed giving the Verde Valley a semblance of independence via an Administrative College at the March, 2016 Board meeting.  

(6) Apparently took a three-week vacation during the school year in March-April to New Zealand (staff refuse to disclose where she went but sources now say this is where she disappeared to).

(7)  Imposed a fee on dual enrollment classes taught in high schools by high school teachers despite opposition from all superintendents in the Verde Valley, the Valley representatives in office at that time, and the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee.  They argued it would adversely impact the poor in the Valley—their plea fell on deaf ears.

(8) Failed to properly involve the faculty or students at the outset of consideration of extending the semester by a week.

The following is a video of the Board report on the salary increase.

 

Categories : Salaries

GOVERNING BOARD RUBBER STAMPS 2017-18 BUDGET

By R. Oliphant
Friday, May 12th, 2017

New Verde Representative falls in line with West County voting Bloc

The $82.75 million Yavapai Community College budget received typical rubber stamp approval from the District Governing Board at its May 9, 2017 meeting in Prescott.  The vote approving the budget was 4-1 with Deb McCasland casting the only “no” vote. 

Connie Harris

Connie Harris, the newly appointed representative from the Third District in the Verde Valley voted to approve the budget.  This was the first  time in four years a representative from the Third District had ignored the imbalance in funding  between the East and West sides of the County and approved the unfair allocation of funds. President Wills and the West County voting bloc were no doubt delighted with her vote.

Representative McCasland, whose district encompasses about half of the Verde Valley, opposed the budget because of its unfair allocation of resources among the residents of the County and the five percent tuition increase. Ms. McCasland has staunchly supported the residents  of the Valley since she was elected.

Categories : Budget

Verde Campus Trail Project beginning

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, May 11th, 2017

Campus trail will connect with Forest Service Trail

Executive Dean James Perey told the District Governing Board at the April 18 meeting that he is working with the Forest Service so that the trail developed on the Verde Campus can connect to the Forest Service trail adjacent the Campus.  It will become a part of the West Mingus Trail system in the Verde Valley and a trail head may be located at the Campus.

Perey said the Verde trail will have access by pedestrians and bicyclists. However, there is no equine to be allowed on the trail.

Dean Perey’s short report to the Governing Board can be viewed below.

 

Categories : Nature trail, Verde Campus

COLLEGE AGREES TO INVEST IN THE SEDONA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, May 10th, 2017

Agreement includes allowing College to hold classes at the Center

The District Governing Board approved an intergovernmental agreement between the College and the Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District at its April meeting that allows the College to hold credit and non-credit and community programming and classes at the Performing Arts Center. 

The College agreed to invest an amount of money in the Center to improve the stage and surroundings. The total amount of money to be invested was not contained in the agreement. However, it is thought to be in the $50,000 range.

The District will allow the College access at no charge to facilities/classrooms in return for the investment. It is anticipated that the College will create dual enrollment courses in the performing arts in conjunction with Red Rock high school .

Categories : Construction, Sedona Campus

COLLEGE REPORTS ON THE SEDONA CONSTRUCTION AT MAY MEETING

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, May 10th, 2017

Scheduled for completion by July

The Yavapai Community College administration reported to the District Governing Board at the May 9, 2017 meeting that the Sedona Center renovation was moving ahead and on schedule. The interior work at the Center includes installation of flooring in the pastry kitchen and culinary area. According to the report, kitchen equipment will be installed in the Center the week of May 22.

Some of the photos of the work in progress were provided in the agenda and a few of them appear below. It is anticipated that the project will be substantially completed by July 1.

The full agenda can be accessed by clicking here.

Categories : Construction, Sedona Campus

REVENUE SOARS DESPITE FALLING ENROLLMENT

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, May 7th, 2017

STUDENT ENROLLMENT DECLINE NEARING 30%; $10.5 MILLION MORE REVENUE

This is the information the Governing Board will have Tuesday, May 9, 2017 when the five County representatives vote on the 2017-18 College budget. If history is any indicator, the Budget will be rubber stamped by at least the West County voting bloc.

1. The College will lose an estimated $330,000 in state aid because of the decline in the number of students taking accredited classes.

2. The aviation program, which has already lost more than a million dollars in tuition and fees over the past two years, will lose another $160,000 because of the continuing decline in enrollment.

3. Property taxes will not be increased this year. This is the second year in a row the Governing Board has not increased the tax rate. Recall that a majority vote of three on this Board can increase the tax rate on the property taxes of Yavapai County voters. (And there is no oversight and no appeal.)

4.Tuition will be increased by 5%. The Governing Board has increased tuition in some form every year over the last decade. The tuition increases have far outpaced inflation.

5. The new-construction tax will bring in about $680,000 in additional revenue to the College.

6.When comparing student headcount from 2008-09 to 2015-16 (the last formal report from the College) there are 3,894 fewer students taking credit courses. (14,139 vs. 10,245) This is a drop of 27.5% in student enrollment. The decline continued in 2016-17 and is predicted to decline by 4% in 2017-18.

7. When comparing student tuition and fees 2008-09 to 2017-18 the College will be collecting $4,678,500 more in tuition and fees than it did almost a decade ago despite the huge drop in student enrollment. ($6,927,300 vs.  $11,605,800).

8. When comparing primary property tax revenue from 2008-09 to 2017-18 the College will be collecting $8,683,119 more in property taxes that it did in 2008-09. ($35,227,381 vs. $43,910,500.)

9. In 2008-09 state aid accounted for $4,761,000 in revenue coming to the College. It is estimated that in 2017-18  the College will receive about $1,979,100 from state in total support. That is a difference of $2,781,900.

10. Overall, it appears that College has $10,579,719 more to spend that it did in 2008-09 and a student body taking accredited courses that has shrunk by almost 30%.

Categories : Budget

Susie Check wins 2017 Outstanding Alumna award

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, May 4th, 2017

CTEC’s No. 1 Fan

Susie Check has been selected to receive the 2017 Yavapai Community College President’s Outstanding Alumna award. The award recognizes her advocacy on behalf of CTEC and its result – student scholarships and student success. Check is an instructional support specialist and a graduate of Yavapai Community College. She has worked at the Community College technical training center since it opened in 2007.

Paul Kirchgraber, Executive  Director of the Community College Foundation, said that Check “has helped the Career and Technical Education division gain prominence as the state’s premier tech education and training program and she has worked tirelessly with the Yavapai College Foundation to secure scholarship support for our students.”

For more information about the award, please click here.  

Susie Check with daughter Nikki Bagley. (YC Press release photo.)

Categories : Faculty

Rodney Jenkins new Vice President of Community Relations

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017

Replaces Steve Walker as VP for Community College

Yavapai Community College has announced that Mr. Rodney Jenkins will become the new Vice President of Community Relations.  This follows the retirement of Steve Walker, in December 2016. Jenkins will be responsible for managing Yavapai College’s marketing, communications, public relations, advancement, economic and workforce development, and legislative relations.

Vice President Rodney Jenkins

His expected start date is Monday, July 3.  Unlike Mr. Walker, he will not simultaneously hold the position of Executive Director of the Yavapai Community College Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization.

Vice President Jenkins has over 15 years of experience leading marketing and communications departments, political and issues-based campaigns, and strengthening community relations. He served as Lock Haven University’s Vice President of University Relations in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania from June 2012 to the present. His responsibilities there included managing the offices of communications, marketing, special events, athletics, alumni relations and development.

Before moving to Lock Haven, he was the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Dekalb County school system in Georgia, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, Director of Corporate Marketing for Cleveland Public Power, and Chief Public Affairs Officer for the City of Cleveland.

For more information, please go to the College announcement by clicking here.

Categories : Admnistrative turnover

PRESCOTT CAMPUS 2017 SUMMER BUILDING PROGRAM

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017

Administration continues spending millions on buildings, parking lots, etc. on Prescott Campus (and elsewhere)

The College Administration spends from $6 million to $8 million dollars a year on various capital projects. All of the revenue comes from primary property taxes and student tuition. Compared to other educational institutions in Arizona, it is awash with revenue.  

For example, the District Governing Board was provided the following capital construction plan for the summer, 2017  at its April 7, 2017  meeting.  It is impressive and this list  is just for one campus.

The sketch was provided to the Governing Board in its agenda by McCarthy Smith Group JJR.

 

Categories : Construction, Prescott Campus

Associate Dean Candidate Dr. Barbara Waak recognizes importance of advocating for the Verde Campus

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017

Waak vies for appointment as Associate Dean for the Verde Valley Campus with Professor Peggy Liggit

Sometime this week, it is anticipated that a new associate Dean for the Verde Campus will be announced. The two candidates being considered for the position are Dr. Barbara Waak and Professor Peggy Leggit. Professor Leggit is a professor of biology and science education and serves as the director of the Faculty Development Center at Eastern Michigan University in the Ypsilant, Michigan.  She has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University. Her parents have lived in the Verde Valley for decades.

Dr. Waak was a finalist in the College’s national search in 2015 for this position behind Dr. Kelly Trainer. She was appointed interim Verde Valley Campus Dean in August, 2016 after Dr. Trainor tendered his resignation. She has served in that capacity since her appointment.

Dr. Waak is entering her 23rd academic year on the Verde Valley Campus. She has served in many capacities over her tenure at the College, including Faculty Senate President and Dual Enrollment Liaison for the English Department. She is also an alumni of Yavapai College, attaining an A.A. in education with honors. Dr. Waak earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and English/Linguistics from Northern Arizona University. She went on to receive a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2005.

When interviewed by Zachary Jernigan for the May 3, 2017 edition of the Cottonwood Journal Extra, Dr. Waak said that she was “very dedicated to this (Verde) campus.” Waak told the reporter that many in the Verde Valley feel that they have been forgotten by the College’s administration in Prescott and need a local advocate. Ms. Ligge indicated she was not aware of the tension between Prescott and the Verde Valley.

While both candidates are well qualified, because of her experience, residence, and thorough understanding of the Verde Campus and the Verde Valley, the Blog is cheering for Dr. Waak.

Categories : Admnistrative turnover, Faculty, Verde Campus
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