Student requests to NACOG for help with gasoline costs show need for access to Community College courses in Verde Valley
Advocates for developing a much stronger Community College presence in the Verde Valley repeatedly argue that Mingus Mountain and the long drive between the East and West sides of the County is a major obstacle for many residents. The College administrators and a majority of the Governing Board obviously disagree. The result is that many classes offered in Prescott are not offered in the Verde Valley.
Recall the County is divided by the Black mountain range. The range separates the East and West sides of the County. Only two roads connect the East side of the County with the West side Prescott/Prescott Valley area: Highway 17, a four-lane highway that is open year round and highway 89a, which runs over the top of the 7,000 foot Mingus Mountain. Highway 89A is a winding dangerous mountain road, which is sometimes snow packed, ice covered, or fog shrouded. It is, however, the shortest route from the Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Verde Villages and Sedona to the Community College campuses on the West side of the County—from 90 to 150 miles round trip depending on where you live on the East side of the County.
Proof of the failure of the Community College to develop more fully courses in the Verde Valley and its impact on residents is found in the following sample of requests sent to the Northern Arizona Council of Governments, Economic Workforce Division in the past few months. The quotes were obtained by the Blog from highly reliable sources.
