A Community College culinary school for Sedona?

By R. Oliphant
Monday, February 22nd, 2016

Wills’ seems to suggest that it will happen: Some view her remarks as a “pledge”

Although Yavapai Community College President Penelope Wills may later change her mind, it appears she is going in the direction of locating a culinary school in the Yavapai College Sedona Center.  The College already has a small culinary offering that is run from Camp Verde in the evening. The college’s offerings there do not appear to constitute a “whole-hearted effort” to house a permanent culinary program.

The Sedona Redrock News interpreted Dr. Wills comments made to the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee February 3, 2016  as a “pledge.”  In an article written by Zachary Jernigan on February 10, he quotes Wills’ as saying “What is the best use of that building? It could be very good for culinary …. We’ve got all the data.”  Wills’ was referring to the Sedona Center when making those comments.

You may read all of Mr. Jernigan’s article by clicking here.

CULINARY SCHOOL 1In an interview given to Tom Tracey of the Verde Independent on January 21, 2016, Verde Campus Executive Dean James Perey said that “”When we get community input to Sedona programming, the major areas are Culinary and Hospitality; Arts and Music; Community Enrichment and Core Curriculum/General Education.”

Perey also told Mr. Tracey that the over 15,000 square-foot Sedona Center is roomy enough to accommodate a commercial kitchen, teaching kitchen and pastry lab. Funding for a redesign of the former cultural center had been previously planned for July of this year. According to Perey,  “Sedona is a number one tourist destination. What can we do to partner with resorts? We could also put on week-long ‘Edu-Cations’-an education plus a vacation. And if Red Rock High School students want to get involved, all they have to do is walk across the street.”

Perey also said that the popularity of Yavapai College culinary classes held evenings at Camp Verde High School has resulted in a waiting list.

You may read all of Mr. Tracey’s article in the Verde Independent by clicking here. 

Categories : Culinary Arts

Verde Valley post-secondary forum rescheduled

By R. Oliphant
Monday, February 22nd, 2016

Will address one of the most pressing but contentious regional educational issues in Arizona: Cooperatively Evaluating and Improving Post-Secondary Educational Opportunities in the Verde Valley

The 2016 Forum was to be held April 3-6. However, it was rescheduled for early fall 2016 using a Friday evening and all-day Saturday format.  This decision was made to ensure more adequate and representative participation of stakeholders from throughout the Verde Valley region. 

VERDE VALLEY FORUM FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRSThe Forum will address what it describes as “one of the most pressing but contentious regional educational issues in Arizona: Cooperatively Evaluating and Improving Post-Secondary Educational Opportunities in the Verde Valley. Forum participants will discuss all facets of the issue, and formulate recommendations and an action plan for any needed improvements.”

 

Categories : Verde Valley Forum for Public Affairs

Editorial urges that College and interest groups seek common ground

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, February 20th, 2016

Goal of everyone is better educational opportunities for the Verde Valley: the problem is Dr. Wills

Commentary

Commentary

In an editorial in the Verde Independent, the editor asks, “Can we pull together for sake of young adults?” The editor goes on to urge cooperation between all the various groups in the Verde Valley and the College.  You may read the editorial by clicking here.

We agree! But there’s a problem.

The Blog strongly agrees with the sentiment expressed in the editorial.  It has been the goal of the advocates for an Administrative College for the past two years and the Blue Ribbon Verde Valley Governing Board Advisory Committee in the last several months to join all parties in a cooperative working relationship.  The problem, to put it bluntly, is Dr. Penelope Wills.

First resident group meeting seeking cooperation two years ago fails

Two years ago, following the huge turnout of residents on March 4, 2014 at the District Governing Board meeting to protest the closing of the Sedona Center, a select group of Verde Valley residents was quietly put together to meet with Dr. Wills and discuss how the Valley could cooperate with the College in the future.  A meeting was arranged.  However, the members of the group, to a person, left the meeting with Dr. Wills shaking their heads.  Their perception was that she was neither interested in cooperation nor their ideas.  

Supervisors joint meeting ignored

On September 21, 2015 the Yavapai County Supervisors voted to remove the College representative from the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Workforce Development Board (WDB).  During that discussion Supervisor “Chip” Davis expressed his concern  about the College’s recent behavior in the Verde Valley. He addressed his remarks to Governing Board representative Al Filardo: “I beg of you, pass on to your board that we are waiting with open arms for a great relationship.  But the one that has been coming out of there for the last few years has been very disruptive and nonproductive.”  Davis went on to suggest a joint meeting between the College and the Supervisors.  That request was ignored by the College and no meeting ever occurred.

Board Advisory Committee cooperative overture rejected

Four months ago (November, 2015), Mr. Paul Chevalier, the Chair of the Blue Ribbon Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee, pleaded with the Governing Board to create a series of meetings consisting of the Advisory Committee, Governing Board, and the College administration to discuss sixteen recommendations made by the Committee to improve educational opportunities in the Verde Valley.  You may view Mr. Chevalier’s request to the Governing Board by clicking here. The suggestion from Mr. Chevalier was met with outright hostility by the Chair of the District Governing Board, Pat McCarver. It was ignored by Wills’ and her staff.

The problem, to put it bluntly, is Dr. Penelope Wills.

The bottom line is this:  As long as Penelope Wills heads the College, cooperation with the Verde Valley will be stingy at best. And in reality, nonexistent. 

Categories : Administrative College, Politics

More wasted taxpayer money on the table for Prescott Campus

By R. Oliphant
Friday, February 19th, 2016

$3 Million for Soccer field; $5 Million for Events Center

The Wills’ administration has included in its most recent five-year capital development plan expenditures of at least $3 million for a “multi-use field” and $5 million for an Events Center.  There is no suggestion that the College “needs” to expend this money.  It is simply a “want” and the Wills’ folks have their hands on the money. They don’t know where else to use all this  money other than to put it into more and more buildings and athletic fields.

Vice President Clint Ewell tried to justify the multi-use field at the February 9 Boar meeting as necessary to hold graduation ceremonies.  This, of course, is nothing more than an effort to disguise the real reason the College wants this field, which is for its soccer team.  The College now leases two soccer fields: one in Prescott and the other in Prescott Valley. 

As further proof of the deception, one needs only to look at phase one of the Master Plan where you find the following:  “Multi-Purpose Field with Locker Rooms and Concessions.”  This is consistent with the real plans to build a field for the soccer team—something Wills’ has publicly supported.

multi use field 1

Apparently, the subsidized Perform Arts Dinner theatre, with 1,000 seats is not a sufficient venue for special events, at least in the eyes of the Wills’ administration.  It intends to spend another $5 million on a new facility.

Board representative Deb McCasland pointed out that the baseball field was originally created out of a grant that promised it would be a “multi-use field.”  President Wills’ made no response to that statement at the Board meeting. 

events center 1

capital improvements focusing on events center lecture hall

Categories : Budget

Verde Independent poll asks your opinion about separate Verde Valley Administrative District

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, February 18th, 2016

Readers may still vote; 81% respondents agree independent Administrative College for the Verde Valley a good idea

The Verde Independent newspaper is running a poll asking readers to vote on the following question:  “Should Yavapai College have one funding district with separate administrative districts for the Verde Valley and Prescott?”

You may cast your vote by clicking here.  Poll results as of Thursday morning, February 18 say 81% agree there should be  separate administrative colleges for the Verde Valley and Prescott.

verde independent feb 2016 poll results so far

Categories : Administrative College

College underestimates CTEC renovation cost by $1 million

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, February 17th, 2016

Just released Audited Financial Report discloses underestimate

Reproduced below is  what the College said on its web site about the grand reopening of CTEC in October, 2015.  According to the College announcement, the CTEC renovation cost was  $5.2 million.

CTEC RENOVATION 3

However, in the June, 2014-15 Audited Financial Report, released to the Governing Board in February, 2016, the total cost associated with CTEC was $6,383,893.  It appears from this data, which includes commitments already paid and commitments remaining to be paid, that the College underreported the total CTEC renovation cost to the public by more than  $1 million dollars.

CTEC RENOVATION 2

Categories : Career and Technical Education

College to spend $5.58 million on West County construction in 2016-17

By R. Oliphant
Monday, February 15th, 2016

Reduces allocation to Sedona Center to $380,000; inserts $1.5 million for PV Campus

The draft budget presented by the Wills’ administration at the February, 2016 Board meeting listed $5,586,500 to be spent on new construction projects in 2016-17.  A little less than seven percent of that money is to be spent in the Verde Valley with $380,000 allocated to the renovation of the Sedona Center.

The College also intends to spend $90,000 on signage and $200,000 on open space improvements.  

surprise prescott valley campus construction

The changes in direction from the capital budget rolled out a year ago are significant.  In that budget no capital construction was was planned for Prescott Valley.  The decision to suddenly invest $1.5 million is a part of the Administration’s plan, no doubt, of accelerating the movement toward a Regional Allied Health campus. It is also appears as a response to pressure put on it by Prescott Valley politicos who appeared at the January Governing Board meeting and urged acceleration of the ten-year plan.

Last year’s budget  contemplated spending $2.720 million renovating the Sedona Center in 2016-17.  That money was reduced to $380,000 this year and the remaining revenue shifted to begin construction on the Prescott Valley Campus. The College said at the February meeting that it was impossible to move any faster on the Sedona project.

Set out below are last year and this year’s budget proposals.

capital improvement plan for 2015

CAPITAL PROJECT ESTIMATE FOR 2016 17

Categories : Budget, Prescott Valley Campus, Sedona Campus

After three years, College decides to consider reopening Sedona Center for credit classes

By R. Oliphant
Monday, February 15th, 2016

Sets up four “teams” to consider future programs

It has been about three years now since the Wills’ administration striped the Sedona Center of all its for-credit classes and putting it on the auction block.  Having been forced to back-off the sale of the property by citizens, the Mayor and Council, it is responding to enormous public pressure to reopen it as a for-credit academic facility.

Sedona Center teamsA first-step in that direction was announced by Dear James Perey January 20, 2016 when he explained to the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee that four teams had been set up to examine various potential programming areas at the Center.  They are:  Culinary & Hospitality, Arts and Music, Community Education, and General Education.

Perey also told the Committee that Yavapai Community College Arts and Humanities Dean, Dr. Craig Ralston, is exploring future concerts and other events to be put on at existing venues in Sedona such as the Sedona Performing Arts Center.  Perey did not given any deadlines for the teams reporting back on their efforts.

Categories : Sedona Campus

College rolls out surprise allied health construction and consolidation on Prescott Valley Campus

By R. Oliphant
Monday, February 15th, 2016

Setting up foundation for later Prescott Valley Regional Allied Health Campus

The first step in moving toward creating the $45 million Regional Allied Health Campus came with the Administration’s surprise announcement at the February 9 Governing Board meeting that it was renovating and expanding the Prescott Valley Campus to accommodate a variety of allied health programs now scattered in the Prescott and Prescott Valley area.

first steps taken to create allied health campusIt also announced that the Mountain Institute JTED allied health programs would move from their present location to the new facility at Prescott Valley.  This further cements the relationship between the College and the high school students and residents on the West side of the County.

Classrooms will be retooled at the present Prescott Valley Campus toward teaching allied health programs rather than EMS.  The footprint of the building to be expanded is estimated at at 5,000 feet and there will be additional parking facilities constructed for the EMS vehicles on the campus.

The College has already hired the Smith Group to complete a Master Plan for the Prescott Valley site and costs are currently estimated at slightly below $2 million.

The College said it was unclear how far this new facility would go in terms of affecting its goal of creating a $45 million regional health center.  But it is a first step.

Categories : Allied Health Campus

College increases Mountain Institute JTED relationship

By R. Oliphant
Monday, February 15th, 2016

Moving Mountain Institute JTED Administrative Offices to CTEC Campus

The College’s commitment to work with the Mountain Institute JTED on the West side of the County is strong and getting even stronger.  Its commitment to work with the Valley Academy JTED (V’ACTE) on the East side of the County is poor and little progress is being made to significantly improve that relationship or invest in it.

MORE TOOLS AND TECHNOLIGY PROVIDE BY COLLEGEFor example, the College announced at the February 9, 2016 Board meeting that it had agreed with the Mountain Institute to locate its administrative offices at the College’s Career and Technical Education Center at the Prescott airport.  This will strengthen the Career and Technical Education training opportunities of high school students on the West side of the County, which is already very strong.  It will do nothing for students on the East side of the County in the Verde Valley.

When asked about the College plans for V’ACTE (East County JTED), Clint Ewell provided a vague suggestion that something might be in next year’s budget and that discussions were occurring.  Penelope Wills said defensively the last meeting with V’ACTE had been cancelled at the request of V’ACTE.  You may view the brief discussion regarding V’ACTE by clicking here.

Categories : Career and Technical Education
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