National Theatre and Bolshoi Ballet great productions; terrible notice

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, April 28th, 2015

The lack of management and resources from the Prescott run College for cultural events on the Verde Campus is glaring

A total of 2 persons took in the National Theatre production of The Hard Problem on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at room M-137 on the Verde Campus. Only three persons attended the Bolshoi Ballet: Ivan the Terrible, which was shown in the same room Sunday, April 26.

These terrific programs had been recorded earlier and were replayed for the audience on a hard drive Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday program April 24

“The Hard Problem” actress Olivia Vinall

It is not clear why the College is offering these productions on the Verde Campus with little or almost no notice to the public. The turn-out for these wonderful productions is virtually nonexistence. Why?

Is it the absence of an organized, well publicized advanced spring program? Is it the absence of a setting such as that enjoyed on the Prescott campus at the Performing Arts Theatre? Is it the 40 year history of not bringing these types of programs to the Verde Campus? Is it the ad hoc manner in which the programs suddenly appear?  Or is it simply a lack of adequate resources and management by the Prescott run College?

Categories : Event, Verde Campus

Wills’ Administration given political cover by Governing Board Chair

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Governing Board Chair political misconstrues request to stop Ten-Year-Plan going forward West side of County

For over a year, dozens of citizens in the Verde Valley have appeared before the College District Governing Board and pleaded that it stop the Ten-Year $100 million dollar plus Construction Development Plan until the East and West sides of the County have a fair opportunity to review it and develop a joint strategic plan for the future.  So, far, those pleas have fallen on deaf ears. 

In March, the Verde Valley Advisory Committee, which is made-up of representatives appointed by local and county governments from throughout the Valley, appeared in person and specifically recommended that “the Board not approve the capital budget prior to completion of a strategic plan that would include both the east and west sides of the County.” Citizens pleaded with the Board at that meeting to listen to the Committee.

politics as ususalThe Advisory Committee then submitted a written report to the District Governing Board restating its recommendation. The recommendation came before the Board April 14.

Governing Board Chair Pat McCarver quickly found a political way of completely misconstruing the recommendation so it could be ignored. She stated that “the one we can’t really address, we can’t delay approval of the budget until the strategic plan is completed because the strategic plan going forward is scheduled to be completed in September.” The other members of the Board must have thought she was correct as they did not challenge her statement.

McCarver, of course, was totally incorrect. The Advisory Committee only asked that a small portion of the $84 million dollar budget involving capital construction be taken out of the budget until there was a plan that had been submitted and approved by the entire County. Removal of that portion of expenditures would not have prevented the College from submitting its budget in June.  McCarver, who supports the Administration by rubber stamping any request it makes, misconstrued the recommendation to give the Administration political cover and to insure the money to fund the huge building spree on the West side of the County is not halted.

So, despite demand after demand after demand to halt the wild spending spree on the Prescott Campus, it seems impossible for citizens to do anything about it. You may view McCarver’s political handling of the recommendation by clicking here.

Categories : Advisory Committees, Ten year plan

April-May calendar of events on Verde Campus

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, April 21st, 2015

April-May sees a number of events coming to the Verde Campus

A number of programs have been scheduled for the months of April and May on the Verde Campus.  They are included in the flyer reproduced below.  The ticket prices are noted beside the event.
May calendar of events

Categories : Event, Verde Campus

What is Wills’ hiding about the meeting with Prescott Valley Town Council?

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, April 21st, 2015

Wills’ again avoids acknowledging presence of Prescott Valley Town Council at March 26 meeting

The question is this: What is President Penelope Wills hiding about the March 26 meeting with the Prescott Town Council? Recall that on that date she hosted a private meeting with Northern Arizona University and the Prescott Town Council at the Prescott Town library. She later claimed it was “historic.”

What was she talking about when she mentioned “salaries for these positions” when providing a brief report to the Governing Board? And what did she mean when she said “we established some task forces?”

Recall that the media was not invited to the March 26 meeting. When a reporter asked for permission to attend, he was flatly refused. When Wills’ was asked later by the media about the meeting, she provided a curt response that omitted any reference to the Prescott Town Council. Here is her reply to the media request.

WILLS STATEMENT ON NAU PRESCOTT VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

 

At the April 14 Governing Board meeting she reported to the Board on the March 26 meeting. Once again, she avoided any reference to the Prescott Town Council. She went so far as to claim that Yavapai College and Northern Arizona co-sponsored the event, although the invitation does not suggest that it is. She also mentioned without explanation “salaries” and “task forces.” 

Through sources, the Blog was able to obtain a copy of the invitation sent out for the March 26 meeting by Wills’ administration. It is reproduced below. Clearly, the Prescott Valley Town Council was invited.

HEALTH SUMMIT INVITATION WITH LINES

 

The Blog has also determined that a quorum of the Prescott Valley City Council was present for the meeting.  Moreover, a web notice of the meeting was posted by the Prescott Valley Town Council.

So the question remains:  What is Wills’ hiding?  Her statement to the Governing Board regarding the March 26 meeting can be viewed by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories : Free speech, Health Summit, Secret meetings

Can McCain and Gosar save the flight program?

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, April 18th, 2015

College turns to politicos to bail it out of flight program mess

Scott Orr, in a story in Friday’s Prescott Daily Courier, reported that Yavapai College has turned to Senator John McCain and Congressman Paul Gosar to bail it out of its flight program registration mess.  (You can read Mr. Orr’s story by clicking here.)  They have authored a joint letter asking the Veterans Administration to change its ruling as it affects about 40 students scheduled to begin training in May.

According to the Veterans Administration, the College has failed to comply with its 85/15 rule, which requires that 15 percent of students enrolled in the flight school program must be civilian, non-veterans.  On March 24, the Veterans Administration sent YC a letter saying that it would not pay benefits for students enrolled in the summer session, although it would continue to fund classes for those already in the program.

messIn their joint letter, the two politicos argued that “recent actions may negatively affect a number of veterans who have already moved to the Prescott area based on their acceptance to this program.” The letter also noted that some Veterans may have used their own money to move and others may have used a one-time Department of Defense allowance to pay for relocation. 

The VA decision affects about 40 students originally scheduled to begin classes May 11. 

Categories : Flight school, Lawsuits
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Great performance; lousy notice; poor setting

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, April 18th, 2015

“Terrific” Ahn Trio live shortened performance draws audience of only 19; absence of local advertising continues to haunt Verde Campus special events; M-137 poor music venue

The Ahn Trio performed live in at a shortened classical music concert on the Verde Campus in room M-137 Friday evening (tickets $15 & $20). The tiny audience thoroughly enjoyed the concert, which was lively and “fun.” They were invited to attend the full concert in Prescott scheduled for Saturday.

This was the fourth college cultural event held in the last two months where there was little or no adequate notice about it. The result has been a turnout of an audience of 2, 2, 7 and now 19 respectively for the four shows.

The drawbacks to how the College is trying to provide these events to the community is obvious. The setting for them is dreadful. There is, for example, neither a stage nor tiered seating. This makes it impossible for most of an audience to see the performers. If there had been a large turnout for the Ahn concert, the view of the players would have been blocked by persons sitting in front of them.

Ahn trio

Ahn Trio

Acoustics are poor as the music must be amplified. M—137 is clearly not suitable for serious indoor concerts.

On the Prescott side of the mountain, the College prints, distributes, and mails a 20 page 4-color professionally designed booklet that contains the entire 2014-15 concert season. This information goes out well before the season begins. No similar effort is made in the Verde Valley. The Verde events are held with minimal notice and appear to be selected on an ad hoc basis.

Millions of dollars have been spent on the College theatre on the Prescott campus, which now rivals a New York theatre. Recently, the seating was replaced and the inside renovated at a cost to taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve site lines. The total renovation cost to the Prescott dinner theatre is at least $5 million dollars. There is nothing remotely like the Prescott theatre on the Verde campus and no effort is being made by the College to provide one for the Verde Valley.

All in all, the College is presenting a series of cultural programs on an ad hoc basis in a setting that discourages most residents from attending; even if they knew about them.

Categories : Event, Underserving the Verde Valley, Verde Campus

Sparks fly over use of words “etchical” and “illegal”

By R. Oliphant
Friday, April 17th, 2015

Wills’ irked at comments in monitoring report 

Comments in a monitoring report regarding treatment of employees drew fire from an obviously irked President Wills and the Chair of the District Governing Board at the April 14 Board meeting.  Wills demanded that “either the data needs to be presented or it needs to be retracted unless that’s not appropriate for that.” The comments, written by Board member Deb McCasland, were contained in a monitoring report and became public at the April 14 Board meeting. They are in part reproduced here.

deb mccasland 2

Governing Board member Deb McCasland.

Ms. McCasland wrote in the monitoring report:  “In my opinion there is a disconnect in what is reported and what actually happens. The number of employees leaving the college is a high number compared to previous years and administrations.  I think the CEO has failed on numerous occasions to provide leadership in Questionable situations blaming the messenger and not the actual situation. I have discussed situations that in my opinion are unethical and possibly illegal with Dr. Wills. Her responses were she was not aware of the situation or it was because of `disgruntled employees.’ All of the information I shared was from personal observations or former employees.”

The Board Chair, Pat McCarver, obviously angered by the written comments, repeatedly warned McCasland. McCarver said:  “I . . . personally found your comments, Deb, to be offensive, inappropriate, and unprofessional.  . . . I do think you need to be very careful about what you say * * * when you are making accusations.”   

The Board went on to approve the monitoring report without change.  You may view the exchanges, which were caught on video, by clicking here.

 

Categories : Employment issues

State budget cuts do not apply to Yavapai College

By R. Oliphant
Friday, April 17th, 2015

State contribution to College will not be reduced; some additional money coming to the College

The cuts in Community College state aid in Arizona’s recently approved budget did not affect Yavapai Community College. In fact, it apparently will receive more funding from the state this year than last year, although the Administration has not provide details of how much additional funding may be received.

budgetSources who the Blog believes are reliable tell it that the College will receive an additional $300,000 from the State of Arizona this coming year. That should be good news for Yavapai County taxpayers.

However, the Wills’ administration is twisting arms and politicing throughout the County for at least a 2% tax increase.  That increase, if approved, comes on the heels of a 4% tuition hike that will already go into effect next year.

Categories : Budget, Yavapai Community College

College reveals dozens of positions eliminated during last three years

By R. Oliphant
Friday, April 17th, 2015

Forty-seven positions eliminated since 2012; didn’t know how many of those were on the Verde Campus

The Community College reported to the District Governing Board at the April 14 meeting that since 2012 it had eliminated 47 full-time positions. Since that time, it has reallocated 18 of those  to fill new positions in the District. It said that the savings from eliminating all these positions was used “for things like offsetting decreases in State Appropriations and self-funding raises.”

layoffsWhen asked to provide information regarding the number of lay-offs on the Verde Campus, the Administration said it did not have that information available at the meeting.

Categories : Budget, Verde Campus

Advisory Committee says “no tax rate increase” for a second time

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

College Verde Valley Advisory Committee again recommends no tax rate increase at this time

For the second time in two weeks, the Verde Valley Advisory Committee to the College Governing Board has recommended that the Governing Board not increase the property tax rate when it considers this issue for a final vote in June. At an earlier meeting this month on April 1, the Advisory Committee had also recommended no tax increase. However, it added to the April 1 motion that it would revisit the tax rate increase issue after hearing from the Community College’s Vice President of Financial Affairs,  Dr. Clint Ewell, who was scheduled to speak at the Committee’s April 15 meeting.  

After hearing Dr. Ewell’s presentation this morning (April 15), the Board was unanimous in voting to recommend no tax increase at this time.  On April 1 there was one abstention from the vote and one Board member who disqualified himself from voting on the issue. (There was one member who disqualified himself from voting on this issue today.)  

The Board is composed of outstanding citizens appointed by local and County officials from throughout the Verde Valley. They represent a cross-section of all the residents of the entire Verde Valley. 

NO NEW TAXESThe Committee vote against raising property taxes at this time was initially sparked for discussion and action when Committee members heard the College administration state during the March District Board meeting in Sedona that it was going to recommend a 2% property tax increase in property taxes.

Unfortunately, the District Governing Board has a long history in Yavapai County of rubber stamping any recommendations coming from the College Administration for a tuition or tax increase. 

The Wills’ administration is pushing extremely hard to increase property taxes just after raising student tuition by 4%. No doubt, the Wills’ administrators will be doing a lot of arm twisting and quiet politicing with Board members before the final  vote is taken on this issue in June.   

Categories : Taxes
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