Says he is “disappointed” over low returns on survey
Yavapai Community College Representative Al Filardo was on the front page of the Verde Independent May 14 criticizing the blue Ribbon seven member all volunteer Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee over a lack of responses to a questionnaire.
According to the Verde Independent, Filardo said “I expressed my disappointment with the VVBAC because I expected each member to turn in around 20 responses each as they indicated during a previous meeting. At this point I think we have a total of 30 or so responses. The approach based on what I can tell is reaching out via email, phone call, and face-to-face request to complete the form.” 
The criticism is puzzling in view of the extensive discussion between Board members and Mr. Filardo at the May 11, 2016 Advisory Committee meeting (three days prior to the Verde Independent story). Mr. Filardo did not express specific disappointment with the committee members at that meeting and agreed to a June date when all the data would be received. He also heard from all the Board members present who recommitted themselves to a greater volunteer effort to gain responses to the questions. They also agreed to try specific techniques suggested by Committee members and Mr. Filardo to gather additional responses to the questions.
Committee members have volunteered dozens, in some cases hundreds, of hours since November, 2014 in an effort to suggest improvements in Community College educational opportunities in the Verde Valley to the District Governing Board. They have made detailed recommendations to the Governing Board and have appeared at numerouls meetings of the Governing board in support of them.
The Blog finds it unfortunate that Filardo felt that public criticism of the Committee was warranted when a June data for the Committee to turn in the information requested had been agreed upon by him and the Committee.
You may read the front page story in the Verde Independent by clicking here.