Author Archive for R. Oliphant – Page 18
He said that the course is “based on the NFPA 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training. Students completed an extensive on-line course prior to the hands-on live fire portion. They were challenged by a series of written and practical examinations to earn this three-year credential. Yavapai College is leading the industry by requiring our fire academy instructors to attend this course keeping with industry best practices.”Without a tennis team, and few or no professionals now teaching at the complex plus an absence of events, the Yavapai Community College courts are almost always open to Prescott residents
Yavapai Community College has recently resurfaced its gorgeous tennis complex on the Prescott Campus, which was primarily built for Prescott retirees. The Community College has not disclosed the cost of the resurfacing project.
Construction of the seven-court complex was partially funded by Sedona and Verde Valley taxpayers through their property taxes. They likewise helped pay for the recent resurfacing.
Unfortunately, the complex is too far from most in Sedona or the Verde Valley to be of any real value. However, it is a great venue for Prescott retirees as the Community College does not have a tennis team, professionals are not using the courts for teaching, and no major events have been scheduled. It makes the courts available almost all the time for Prescott’s retirees.
Reports coming to the Blog indicate that tennis instructors and major tournaments are distancing themselves from the complex following the dismissal of tennis legend, Chris Howard. Many will remember the overwhelming dismay from the Prescott tennis community upon hearing of Mr. Howard’s departure. Despite the community’s urgent appeal to the District Governing Board to investigate the matter, their concerns were met with complete indifference.
Instead of fearing public scrutiny because it honestly shares detailed lawful information about decisions and projects in the District, it should embrace it as an opportunity for growth and improvement
Editor: Robert Oliphant Commentary
EDITORIAL: In an age where transparency and open dialogue are increasingly becoming cornerstones of effective governance and public trust, one ponders what is happening at Yavapai Community College. While touting the values of openness, community engagement, and collaboration, it appears Yavapai Community College has become paranoid when it comes to sharing any specifics about its operations and decision-making processes with the residents of the County who support it.
It seems to me that this closed-door approach to institutional governance is counterintuitive to its educational mandate and also potentially harmful to the very fabric of academic freedom and community trust.
The Irony of Withholding Information: Education, at its core, is about the dissemination of knowledge. Yavapai Community College is supposed to foster curiosity, encourage questions, and cultivate critical thinking. So, when it chooses to operate in secrecy, a stark contradiction arises. How can it instruct students the value of transparency, accountability, and democratic processes while simultaneously withholding as much information as possible about the inner workings of its educational environment from the public? It is hardly acting as a role model students should emulate.
Eroding Trust: Trust is a fragile commodity, and once lost, it’s not easily regained. That should be a lesson learned over the past half century in the treatment afforded residents of Sedona and the Verde Valley. By keeping its cards so close to its chest, Yavapai Community College creates a climate of skepticism and doubt. Parents, students, and the broader community on the east side of Minus Mountain question what it has to hide. Without transparency, unfounded rumors, often based on misinformation, can gain traction, further muddying the waters and eroding the trust that it needs to operate effectively.
The Fear Factor: You might ask: “Why has Yavapai Community College chosen this path of opacity? Are the executives operating the College trying to protect trade secrets, as a corporation might?” That seems unlikely. More plausibly, the executives fear a public backlash over unpopular decisions, possess concerns over competition between the five Districts in the County, or it has accepted an institutional culture that has historically valued secrecy over public transparency.
While these concerns are understandable to a certain extent, the solution isn’t to retreat further into the shadows. In the long run, such behavior only exacerbates its problems.
The Need for a New Approach: Yavapai Community College is not a mere corporate entity driven by profit. It is a center of learning, growth, and community building. It has a responsibility to its students, to society at large, and Yavapai County residents in particular. Thus, it’s crucial that the College operates with a level of transparency befitting its role.
Instead of fearing public scrutiny because of sharing information, it should embrace it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Feedback from the community can lead to better decision-making and a more inclusive approach to governance. It’s time for Yavapai Community College to step out from the shadows of secrecy and engage openly with the public it serves. A culture of secrecy has no place in the realm of education. The future of the College and the trust it should command depends on its willingness to operate with transparency, integrity, and openness.
Already moving into the design development phase this month
Yavapai Community College is forging ahead with plans to construct a state-of-the-art, three-story Health Science Center spanning 30,000 square feet at the Prescott Valley Center. As reported in the College’s October Facilities Management Newsletter, the project’s steering committee convened multiple times in September and has further meetings scheduled for October. In October it is anticipated that the Committee will shift from programming to design development.
The new facility is intended to host the Nursing department and will also serve as the new location for the EMS program, currently situated at the Prescott Campus.
Minimum estimates for the cost associated with this project run around $20 to $22 million.
[For more details, refer to the excerpt from the October Facilities Management Newsletter that appears below.]
Prior Registration with OLLI required; Program to run from 1:00 pm. to 3:00 p.m. | Learn how Yavapai-Apache experiences are directly tied to discoveries of gold around Prescott and rich copper mines on Mingus Mountain and much more
The Sedona/Verde Valley Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) will present a free two hour program on the Verde Valley Campus October 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the rich indigenous natural history of Central Arizona. Registration before the program with OLLI is required. The presentation will take place in Room 137 in Building “M” on the Verde Valley Campus.
Dr. Maurice Crandall will give the presentation. Dr. Crandall is an Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University and an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
The following is how OLLI describes the program:
Learn how Yavapai-Apache experiences are directly tied to discoveries of gold around Prescott and rich copper mines on Mingus Mountain, and the perennial streams of the Verde River watershed to raise the crops necessary to feed the growing numbers of non-Indian settlers who flooded the region beginning in the 1860s. Even after the Yavapai-Apache returned from forced exile around 1900, they survived by working in mining operations and infrastructure projects while squatting on United Verde Copper Company land. The natural beauty of central Arizona is contrasted by the ugly remnants of this extractive past: slag heaps, leach fields, and abandoned mines. This lecture will challenge listeners to think about their relationship to the environment, how the natural history and resources of the region have been abused to the detriment of the land and its original inhabitants, and open a discussion of how to heal and move forward, honoring the natural history of the land and its people.
Dr. Maurice Crandall is an Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University and an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation. He previously taught at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Professor Crandall is a multi-award-winning author and public intellectual who has presented his research throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and Europe. His first book, These People Have Always Been a Republic: Indigenous Electorates in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, 1598–1912, was published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2019. His second book, on Yavapai-Apache Scouts, is under contract with W.W. Norton & Company. He received his PhD in History from the University of New Mexico, and is a graduate of Mingus Union High School.
Verde Valley/Sedona Residents taken by surprise as a variety of multi-million dollar projects for west side of County continue to be pulled from taxpayer hat by College execs while east side of County ignored
Robert Oliphant, Editor
EDITORIAL: The Yavapai Community College executives began laying the groundwork during the September 19 Board meeting for another multi-million dollar construction project on the Prescott side of Mingus mountain. This project would consist of a 40 apartment complex on 1.15 acres it just purchased near the Career and Technical Education Center. The College’s rhetoric during the meeting left little doubt to most listeners that the goal is to obtain swift approval for the project at the next budget opportunity.
The College’s unveiling of the possible multi-million-dollar apartment complex for CTEC comes as yet another surprising development for County residents. Recall the sudden last minute insertion of $10 million into the 2023-24 budget to accommodate a 20,000 foot expansion of CTEC—it already covers around 108,000 square feet. Then the August surprise announcement that the College was quickly moving forward with preliminary plans to construct a 30,000 square foot Health Science Center in Prescott Valley at a cost of at least $20 million.
In addition to these surprises, we know the College is currently allocating around $15 million to convert the Prescott Campus library into Digital Learning Commons. Moreover, it is in the process of developing a housing complex of manufactured homes near Prescott Valley for west side faculty, which will no doubt cost millions.
In stark contrast, the Community College’s allocation of resources and concern for housing and amenities on the Verde Valley Campus and Sedona Center is minimal at best. It scrapped the Master plan provision based on need and research, approved in concept by the Governing Board in November 2022, to invest $9.25 million in decent student housing on the Verde Valley Campus.
It is worth noting that the $9.25 million Verde Valley/Sedona campus housing project was labeled a priority in November 2022 and sold as such to local politicians by College representatives in a special meeting held months earlier in March 2022. Despite the Master plan and rhetoric associated with it, within a few weeks of the November presentation it appears the College stepped away from it in favor of cheap, inexpensive temporary housing fixes for the Verde Valley Campus/Sedona Center. Here are some concrete examples to illustrate this shift.
The first example is the decision to construct a crude 10 vehicle trailer park on the Verde Valley Campus. Starting last March, with notice to no one including the Third District representative, the College issued a contract, drafted a plan, and put a bulldozer to work on on the project. Grading began on some unused desert land on its Verde Valley Campus adjacent to the vineyard that is a block or more from the main Campus facilities. There are neither sidewalks nor well-developed walking paths between the trailer park and teaching facilities. Over the summer it installed a basic septic system plus water and electric lines, poured a small cement slab for each trailer, and proudly proclaimed in August the availability of a ten vehicle trailer lot for faculty and students.
By any measure, this is a minimalist trailer park. It offers little relief from the blistering summer heat because it lacks shade trees or a permanent structure for cooling, student gatherings, food, or refreshments. Security measures appear inadequate, outdoor lighting is nonexistent, regulations are few and far between, and perhaps most astonishingly, the trailer park entrance is merely 50 – 75 feet away from the backyards of Clarkdale residents. Access to the trailer park is via a poorly constructed, single-lane trail-type road where nightly visits from coyotes and Mohave rattlesnakes are far from uncommon, making for a rather unconventional coexistence with trailers of varying ages, makes, sizes, and conditions.
The second example involved cutting a deal during the summer of 2023 with a Prescott Valley developer who was building a large apartment complex in Cottonwood about two miles from the Verde Valley Campus. The College agreed to reserve ten apartments for faculty and students and then rent them out.
This apartment project has already failed. Despite its best efforts beginning in the summer, the scheme failed to attract either faculty or students to rent them from the College for the fall semester. Apparently, although not entirely clear, the developer let the College out of any cost associated with its reserve agreement for the fall semester. The project will be shuttered next year unless there are takers in January 2024.
One couldn’t help but smile as the College executives presented their case for the CTEC apartments at the September Board meeting. They attempted to tantalize the Governing Board with the prospect of partnering with a company with international headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, known by the acronym “COBOD” (Construct Buildings on Demand). This company aspires to sell 40 state-of-the-art 3D cement printing machines annually in the United States. The pitch to the Board by the College centered on the notion that Yavapai could serve as the ideal training ground for individuals who invest in these printers.
According to the sales pitch delivered on Tuesday, the COBOD trainees would require accommodation for a semester or possibly shorter periods. Thus, the subtle yet discernible suggestion to the Board that there is an essential need for housing these individuals near CTEC because this is a destination program. The destination claim is a familiar one that has been previously disregarded on numerous occasions in the case of the vineyard and culinary projects at the Verde Valley Campus and the Sedona Center respectively.
To further persuade the Governing Board, the College execs trotted out a graph showing that the potential student housing demand for CTEC-like-courses was already at 42. It was estimated that COBOD would add another ten people to this list.
One can’t help but ponder whether this entire endeavor was surreptitiously conceived in the offices of Yavapai Community College executives based in Prescott many months ago and intentionally kept hidden from the County’s residents. This approach now appears to be the commonly accepted modus operandi of the executives running this publicly funded educational institution.
They understand full well that without awareness by County residents of how they are spending taxpayer funds there is little or no accountability. After all, as someone has said, “accountability ascends amidst awareness.”
Pays at least $200,000 in purchase believed to be from local housing developer; purpose is most likely to build a 40 apartment complex for CTEC faculty and students and construct large electronic sign directing traffic to CTEC
Highly reliable sources have informed the Blog that Yavapai Community College purchased the 1.15 acres close to the Career and Technical Education Center on 89A going to the Prescott airport for at least $200,000. The sources were not certain but thought the seller was a local developer with whom the College is doing quite a bit of business related to housing.
All indications are that the purpose of the purchase is preparation for the College constructing a 40 apartment complex for CTEC faculty and students and place a large electronic sign directing people to CTEC located at the Prescott airport.
The Blog asked the Community College directly by email to officially confirm the sale price, seller’s name, and purpose but it refused to do so. Instead, it replied that the Blog should review a presentation made to the September 19, 2023, Governing Board by Dr. Clint Ewell, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services at the College.
A review of the meeting showed that Dr. Ewell announced the College had “closed” on the purchase of the land during his presentation but he did not disclose the price, seller’s name, or purpose of the acquisition. However, one surmises from his presentation that the reason for the purpose was to lay the foundation for constructing a 40 bedroom apartment on the complex for CTEC faculty and students.
Attendees can learn the latest information about careers and apply for full and part-time jobs
In a Yavapai Community College press release written by Tim Diesch it was announced that the College and the Regional Economic Development Center are partnering with the Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations to sponsor the Verde Valley Job Fair at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds (800 E. Cherry St.) on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
According to the release, attendees can learn the latest information about careers; apply for part-time, full-time, temporary, and seasonal jobs; and meet with representatives from business, healthcare, and non-profit organizations.
Following below is a portion of the press release. You can read the entire press release at https://www.yc.edu/v6/news/2023/09/jobfair.html.
There are currently more than 20 businesses that will be providing information about themselves as employers.
Veterans, individuals 55 and older, and job seekers with disabilities may take advantage of early admission at 3 p.m. Professional attire for all attendees is strongly recommended.
Need help preparing for the job fair? Resume review and interview tips are available at ARIZONA@WORK. Veterans who need assistance may call U.S. VETS at 928-200-5631.
The Verde Valley Job Fair is coordinated by the Yavapai College Regional Economic Development Center, the City of Cottonwood, the Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce, ARIZONA@WORK Yavapai County, NACOG, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Governing Board is told that no student, faculty member, firefighter, police officer, or medical person signed up for fall semester apartment or single bedroom; College will end project unless there are sign-ups for winter semester; high price, timing are blamed for initial failure
The Yavapai Community College Prescott-based executive team, in collaboration with Fain Signature Group, a Prescott Valley housing developer, kicked off in June a project apparently aimed at providing Verde Valley/Sedona Center faculty and students with housing options at little cost to the College. It had Governing Board approval and is part of a workforce project being pushed by the College. The project centered on an apartment complex being constructed by the Fain Signature Group in Cottonwood, Arizona about two miles from the Verde Valley Campus and about 15 miles from the Sedona Center.
This venture involved the College leasing 10 apartments in the complex from the developer. Then, renting the leased apartments back to students, or leasing bedrooms of each apartment to different students at the builder’s rates. A two bedroom apartment rents for $1,900 a month; a three bedroom for $2,100 a month. (Note chart below.)
It came as a surprise to many, including the Blog, that the College was not subsidizing any of these units for students or faculty members.
The College initiated its efforts to rent these apartments to Verde Valley/Sedona faculty in early June, and then in later June to students. It was hoping to cater primarily to students and faculty. Unfortunately, the response was less enthusiastic than expected. In an attempt to broaden their target audience, the College then extended the scheme to include local firefighters, police officers, and medical personnel, with the idea that they would share the apartments with students or faculty members.
Despite the initial interest shown by a handful of individuals, none have committed to the idea thus far. This includes students, faculty members, local firefighters, police officers, and medical personnel. It’s clear that there are significant hurdles to overcome in making this concept a reality.
The College plans to intensify its marketing efforts in the coming months. If there is little success by January 2024, the College intends to abandon the plan.
One key obstacle faced by potential tenants is the high cost associated with these apartments. The rental rates are notably steep for students and working class individuals. Another obstacle is that the apartmens cannot be leased out as B&B’s if they do not rent. Or are vacant for several months.
The following is the schedule of costs of the apartments just published by the College may be a little confusing:
YOU MAY VIEW THE VIDEO OF DR. CLINT EWELL’S REPORT TO THE GOVERNING BOARD ABOUT THIS PROJECT ON SEPTEMBER 19 BY CLICKING HERE. AUDIO ON VIDEO OF POOR QUALITY AS COLLEGE TECHS FORGOT TO MOOT CERTAIN MIKES.
Only information provided County residents after Tuesday’s meeting was a Board motion stating that it “accepts the goals” it set during the secret meeting
Robert Oliphant, Editor