Author Archive for R. Oliphant – Page 38

FIVE YEAR MASTER PLAN IN CONCEPT CALLS FOR RENOVATING BUILDING 19 ON THE PRESCOTT CAMPUS FOR DIGITAL LEARNING CENTER AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $12.15 MILLION; RENOVATION TO CREATE DIGITAL LEARNING CENTER ON VERDE CAMPUS ESTIMATED AT 3.09 MILLION

Work may already have begun on renovating Building 19 on the Prescott Campus; unclear when work may begin on Verde Campus

The Yavapai Community College Five year Master Plan, approved by the District Governing Board 4-1 in concept, will spend an estimated $12.15 million to renovate Building 19 on the Prescott Campus to support creation of a Learning/Digital Commons.  It is believed that work has apparently already begun on some aspects of the renovation.

The Mater Plan in concept estimates spending about $3.09 million to renovate Building M to create a Learning/Digital Commons.    No work has begun on building “M” on this renovation.  According to the Community College Master Plan, the goal on the Verde Campus is to “provide space for the library, information technology support, tutoring, collaboration, content creation, meetings, socialization, and studying.”

Sketches and information contained in the College Master Plan appear below. This material  should provide you with additional information regarding these two major projects.

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE FIVE-YEAR MASTER PLAN SHOWS LITTLE INVESTMENT IN SEDONA CENTER

May spend an estimated $146,000 for acoustical and technology upgrades for rooms (out of $50 to $70 million in total County-wide projects) but nothing for additional programs

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board approved 4-1 a five-year capital development program in concept at its November 2022 meeting.  It estimated $50.14 million in construction costs and $77.13 million in total project development costs.  It appears from the planning documents that a only tiny amount of the development funding is going to the Sedona Center.

When listing priorities for capital development, the planning documents indicate that the College plans in concept to spend only $146,000 on the Sedona Center over the next five years.  The money allocated to the Center is aimed at improving technology and acoustical issues in the classrooms.

You may view the excepts from the adopted Master Plan that appear below to confirm the Blog’s analysis. Note that during the Priority Projects list shows the College expending a total of $50.14 in construction costs and $77.13 in total costs.

FIVE YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVED BY GOVERNING BOARD IN CONCEPT IN NOVEMBER FOR BREWERY LEAVES OPEN PUZZLING QUESTION OF LOCATION IN THE VERDE VALLEY AND COST

Priority list of projects indicates the location to be determined with sketches in plan inconsistent with priority list; confusion over location coincides with College using different figures for estimated costs

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board approved 4-1  in concept  the construction of an estimated $8 million dollar brewery project at its November meeting.  However, there remain questions about whether the project is being delayed, its actual estimated cost, and  its possible location.

The confusion over this project arises for a number of reasons.  First, in October 2022 the College announced in its Facilities Management Newsletter without further explanation that the Brewing project had been “postponed.” 

Second, at the November 2022 Governing Board meeting the brewery project was approved in concept by a 4-1 vote.  As noted by Third District Governing Board Representative Paul Chevalier during the meeting, the cost estimates seem to be unsettled. For example,  in October the College said in its Facilities Management Newsletter the project would cost around $10 million. However,  in November the cost was listed in the adopted concept plan (see below) at a little over $8 million.

Third, in the November presentation, the College lists the location of various possible projects.  However, when it came to the Brewery project, on the “Priority Projects” list it clearly states the location is to be determined (TBA). See below.

Fourth, In the same presentation there is a map of the Verde Campus with numbers that indicated where each Verde Campus priority project would be located.  The Brewery project is number 8 in the list of priorities but nowhere on the Verde Campus map showing locations of projects does that number appear. (See below).

Fifth, to add even more confusion to the issue, in a slide contained in the five year concept plan that briefly explains the Brewery project, there is a dot on the upper right of a tiny map of the Verde Campus showing the possible location of the Brewery.

So far, the Prescott based Community College executives have not supplied any explanation to the public about the confusion over cost, postponement, or actual site for the project. (For additional information about this project found in the Blog please click here.)

Following below are some excerpts from the plan approved in concept by the Governing Board at its November 2022 meeting.

NEW FIVE YEAR YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE MASTER PLAN CONTAINS CONCEPT OF EXPANDING COMMERCIAL DRIVING TRAINING PROGRAM TO VERDE CAMPUS

Estimated cost is $608,000 to initiate program on Verde Campus; Chino Valley Center is currently home to Community College developed CDT program and will continue with an estimated $608,000 additional funding

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board approved in concept at its November 2022 meeting spending an estimated $608,000 on the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale to begin a Commercial Driver Training Testing site.  Any final decision on starting the project and allocating the funds for it rests with the Board when it approves its budget in the spring 2023.

The justification for the expansion was that there is a high demand for truck drivers with commercial driver’s licenses. 

The project for the Verde Campus includes site grading and construction of an ADOT approved asphalt lot and track for commercial drier license skills testing.  The size of the lot and test track will be determined when the Community College decides to go ahead with the project and hires an architect for it.

It should be noted that back in June 2022 the Community College said in a report to the Board that it had applied for a grant from Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. During the announcement, the presenter made reference to Camp Verde as receiving some of the grant funds for a commercial truck driving school. The reference now appears most likely an error or slip of the tongue.  (To view the video clip of the June report to the Governing Board on the grant request see https://www.screencast.com/t/lFUFFkfTC.) 

Below are excerpts from the Yavapai Community College Governing Board November 2022 adopted concept Five Year Plan:

 

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE FIVE YEAR MASTER PLAN INCLUDES CONCEPT OF $9.25 MILLION STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT ON THE VERDE CAMPUS

Housing of up to 60 beds will provide student access to unique destination programs offered at the Campus

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board 4-1 approved in concept creation of a small student residence facility of up to 60 beds on the Verde Campus at its November Board meeting.  The initial estimated cost for the facility was put at $9.25 million. 

Actual approval for the housing project must come when the Governing Board meets in May 2023 and approves its budget. The plan does not include housing for faculty.

 If approved, it is believed the Community College executives will use revenue bonds to pay for its construction.  These are bonds that are issued upon approval of the Governing Board and do not use taxpayer funds for repayment.  Rather, income derived from a variety of sources generated by the Community College are used for such projects.

It is believed that that the current residence halls on the Prescott Campus pay for themselves.  In other words, they are not subsidized by County taxpayers. No doubt, Prescott based executives hope that the Verde facility will likewise pay for itself.

Following below are excerpts from the Master Plan approved in concept by the Governing Board:

 

 

COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SWEARS IN MCCASLAND AND BRACETY TO YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD ON DECEMBER 5

Current Chair McCasland will serve six years; new member Bracety will complete final four year term of Mitch Padilla

Yavapai County School Superintendent Mr. Tim Carter swore in Ms. Deb McCasland and Mr. Steve Bracety on December 5 to the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board. McCasland, the current chair of the Governing Board, ran unopposed in the November general election and will serve through 2028.  Bracety was appointed by County School Superintendent Tim Carter after Mitch Padilla stepped down to assume the position to which he was elected in November of Justice of the Peace for the Prescott precinct.  Bracety begins his term on the Board January 1, 2023, and will serve through 2026.

In a December 5 Community College news release by Tyler Rumsey, Barcety is quoted as saying that “it is an honor to be appointed to represent District 5 on the Yavapai College District Governing Board. I believe strongly in the value of higher education and have a passion for public service and Yavapai County. Yavapai College is critical for our communities growth, and I look forward to serving on its Governing Board.”

Ms. McCasland was quoted in the same news release as saying  that “the addition of Steve Bracety to our Board will be great for our residents throughout the county. He is well known in the community and has a strong public service and business background that will benefit our Board. I’d also like to thank Mitch Padilla for his service on the Board over the last two years, where his passion for the College and the success of our students was always evident.”

For additional detailed background information about Mr. Bracety, please click the December 1 Blog posting here.  

COLLEGE SPENDS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS ON SPECULATIVE 3D CEMENT PRINTER AND THREE NEW ATHLETIC PROGRAMS BUT CANNOT BRING ITSELF TO EVEN EXPLORE POSSIBILITY OF FREE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE TRAINING PROGRAM WITH SEDONA

College continues historic rigidity when it comes to locating advanced programs in the Verde Valley; some fear that sophisticated Community College career and technical training opportunities  will be lost to the Verde Valley without local control over decision making and budgets

Editor Robert Oliphant

OPINION. The revelation by the newly elected mayor of Sedona, Scott Jablo, at the November District Governing Board meeting  that Yavapai Community College has shown no interest when offered an opportunity  to explore a sophisticated EV training program at no cost is consistent with the historic treatment of the east side of the County by the west side.  Ask anyone, for example, who knows about the collapse of the ambitious east county CTE project back in 2005-2006 and the scramble on the west side to find a CTE campus to house diesel engine training.

When making the College’s reaction to the recent offer by Sedona known to the Governing Board, Jablo explained that Sedona is transitioning to an all-electric bus transportation fleet and will be constructing a maintenance and repair facility to house the vehicles.  He said that the City was prepared to offer space to the Community College free of charge along with an opportunity to train alongside its staff of EV technicians.

Jablo said the offer of the training facility space was made a year or so ago.  Since then, there has been silence in response from the Community College.

By comparison, on the west side of the County,  the College readily found almost a half million dollars  in its budget back in 2000 to purchase a huge 3D cement printer in an effort to create a highly sophisticated construction training program over there. Turns out that after the huge printer was received, it had to be rebuilt at a cost the College refuses to divulge.  Worse, the College has  yet to demonstrate that it understands how to use the sophisticated 3D cement construction printer to  build anything.

Also, by comparison, on the west side of the County, the Community College executives in the last couple of years decided to add three more teams (more coaches, support staff, scholarships) to its growing list of sports programs. This has increased the annual budget by hundreds of  thousands of dollars and in part is responsible for the College asking for a tax rate increase in 2023.  

The sports program services almost exclusively the west side where virtually all matches and games are held and all baseball, softball and soccer fields are located.  (The west side also has the only major sized gymnasium where its volleyball team plays its matches, with rare exception.) The west siders are breathlessly waiting to transform at a cost of hundreds of thousands the current soccer practice field into a field where matches will be held. 

However, when it comes to the east side of the County, and the possibility of an advanced EV  technical education training opportunity such as that proposed by the Sedona mayor, the west side executives have shown no interest in exploring such a venture. 

There is little east side residents can do about decisions (or the absence of decisions) like this because control of the Yavapai Community College rests entirely in the hands of persons living in Prescott with what appears to be an obvious Prescott preference for seizing advanced CTE training programs and locating them over there.  Until the local east County Community College Verde Campus and Sedona Center are run by local residents, and decision making for the future development is theirs alone, such conduct will continue well into the future.

So, a great opportunity is apparently lost. But watch where EV training will emerge.  It won’t be on the east side of the County.

COLLEGE SHOWS NO INTEREST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF SEDONA TO TRAIN EV MECHANICS

Newly elected Mayor outlines partnership where City will pay for construction of new EV facility, all costs associated with operating it; provide College space to train students on repairing EV buses; so far, College indicates no interest in offer

Sedona Mayor Elect Scott Jablow

The new incoming Mayor of Sedona, Scott Jablow, offered a superb educational opportunity for Yavapai College when speaking to  the College’s  Governing Board at its November meeting. Jablow told the Board that Sedona was embarking on plans to create an all-electric vehicle (EV) transportation fleet of buses (and possibly other city vehicles). He explained that the City as a part of its EV program intends to build a maintenance facility for the EVs, staff it with technicians, and pay all associated operating costs.

In a stunning revelation, he said a year ago he had proposed to the Chair of the Board that the city of Sedona  would provide space where Yavapai Community College students could train on repairing EVs in its EV facility.  The only cost to the College would be to provide a curriculum and a teacher for the program.

Despite the generous offer by the City, the Mayor reported that the College has shown absolutely no interest in such a partnership. “None.” 

It seems like history, at least to a certain extent, is repeating itself when it comes to advanced CTE programs in the Verde Valley.

Recall that back in 2005-2006, Phelps-Dodge  (later Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold), a Phoenix-based global mining company, let Community College executives know that it was looking for a place that would train students in diesel, industrial and electrical mechanics. It suggested that it would financially support the creation of a two-year College apprenticeship program and would help build classrooms and pay faculty salaries for the first three years of the program if the College initiated such a program.

The Prescott based College executives leaped at the offer and immediately began searching for a west Yavapai County facility to purchase. At the time the Prescott-based executives had the option of putting the diesel training facility on the Verde Valley Campus as a part of the newly created CTE program, which it called the Northern Arizona Regional Skills Center.

Rather than begin a new and exciting program on the Verde Campus as a part of its CTE development, the Governing Board authorized purchase of a 108,000 square foot building at a cost of five million dollars, located at the Prescott airport, to house the diesel project. Once the purchase was complete, it began renovating the facility with an initial investment of $750,000. The building is now called the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) and houses the diesel training program.

The decision to develop a diesel training program at the CTE campus at the Prescott airport marked  the death knell for the  Career and Technical Education program just started on the Verde Campus. The idea of seriously pushing the development of a major northern Arizona CTE Center on the Verde Campus soon evaporated. 

Now, years later, Sedona is offering the east side of the County an opportunity to train technicians to repair EV engines with little cost to the College.  It would be training students for the present and future. However, the west side executives, who control all major decisions on the east side of the County, are simply looking the other way. It’s what happens when local residents cannot control local programs at a local community college.

From the west side’s reaction, it’s fairly easy to see where EV training will go in the future. Only to Prescott’s CTE training facility.

You may view all of Mayor-elect Scott Jablow’s short presentation to the November Governing Board by clicking here. Note the first part of his speech has to do with the Brewery program being proposed for the Verde Campus.

MANY SEDONA VOTERS INDICATE $10 MILLION BEER BREWERY PROJECT ON VERDE CAMPUS MAY BE WRONG DIRECTION FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUGGESTING IT IS UNNECESSARY AND A WASTE OF MONEY

Jobs in brewery industry on east side of County are few and low paying; focus should be on training for  well-paid high tech CTE jobs

Sedona Mayor elect Scott Jablow

During his successful run in November for Sedona Mayor, current Vice Mayor Scott Jablow talked with prospective voters about Yavapai Community College.  According to his brief report at the November 2022 College Governing Board meeting, many Sedona  voters expressed little if any interest in seeing the College expend millions of dollars on a brewery on the east side of the County.

Jablow said that “many of the people” he spoke to “were concerned about” what the Governing Board and College were doing “with the taxpayer money from the Yavapai side of Sedona.”  According to him, they told him that “a brewery was not necessary for our region.  That the money being spent — $10 million dollars – is unheard of when we don’t have the need from any of our brewers . . ..”  (See video clip for complete statement.)  “They feel it is a waste of money,” he said.

The preference among voters with whom he spoke was for more training in hi-tech Career and Technical Education jobs.

You may view his brief report to the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board on video  by clicking here.

HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION HAS GRANTED MARICOPA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT ACCREDITATION FOR SEVEN BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Legislation allowing community colleges to start offering four-year degrees was approved in a bill signed by the Governor last year

The Higher Learning Commission has granted Maricopa County Community College District accreditation for seven bachelor’s degree programs.  This is a result of legislation signed last year that allows community colleges to begin offering four year degrees.

The newly accredited degrees and the campuses in the Maricopa Community College District offering them are:

  • Data analytics and programming, Bachelor of Applied Science, Mesa.

  • Information technology, Bachelor of Applied Science, Phoenix.

  • Nuclear medicine technology and computed tomography, Bachelor of Applied Science, GateWay.

  • Public safety administration, Bachelor of Applied Science, Phoenix and Rio Salado.

  • Early childhood education – dual language, Bachelor of Arts, Mesa.

  • Elementary education and special education, Bachelor of Arts, Glendale, Paradise Valley and Rio Salado.

  • Behavioral sciences, Bachelor of Arts, South Mountain.