Author Archive for R. Oliphant – Page 38
The 1970’s pop artist Tony Orlando will perform Friday night, January 13 at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center on the Prescott Campus. According to the Community College’s press release about this event, tickets start at $35, with a fundraising pre-show dinner also available with a separate ticket purchase.The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra concert is the first of six major orchestral events
scheduled for the winter/Spring semester at the Performing Arts Center on the Prescott Campus. The ASU Symphony Orchestra will perform February 12 at 3 p.m. The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields will hold a concert March 7 at 7 p.m. Ms. Sarah Chang, one of the world’s great violinists, headlines a program set for March 26 at 3 p.m. The Les Violons du Roy Chamber orchestra is scheduled for April 30 at 3 p.m and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra is scheduled for May 16 at 7 p.m.
The Lone Star State: Texas Tenors will perform at a concert on Friday, January 20. A Community College press release describes the Tenors as Texas-born performers who have built a versatile and family-friendly style. The Press release says that they have played every possible venue, from performing arts centers to casinos and symphony halls to outdoor festivals and corporate events. They collaborate with some of the world’s most prestigious symphonies, including the Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and The City of Prague Orchestra. They have performed at The White House National Tree Lighting, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Ceremonies as well as numerous NBA games and charity events.Proposition 308 passed in November ensures that any Arizonan, regardless of immigration status, who has graduated from an Arizona high school and has lived in the state for two consecutive years, is granted in-state tuition at its colleges and universities
Arizona voters narrowly passed Proposition 308 in November. Proposition 308 allows undocumented students both access to in-state tuition rates and state-funded financial aid.
It is of particular importance to “Dreamers.” These are persons who entered the United States without legal permission as children. Many of them came from Mexico and other Latin American countries and consider themselves American, having grown up and possibly only speaking English in the United States. Some may not have even been aware of their unauthorized immigrant status until they were older and unable to obtain a driver’s license or financial aid for college due to their lack of a Social Security number.
Though it passed by less than 60,000 votes, the change in treatment of undocumented immigrants is a significant one. Recall that in 2006, Arizona voters passed Proposition 300, which did the opposite. It prohibited undocumented students from receiving in-state tuition and financial aid.
According to experts, until this vote, Arizona was one of three states, including Georgia and Indiana, to specifically block undocumented students’ access to cheaper in-state tuition – making it one of the most draconian policies in the country. (Alabama and South Carolina both go a step further: prohibiting undocumented students from enrolling in any public postsecondary institution whatsoever, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.)
Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine has made no public comment regarding the passage of Proposition 8. However, the Chancellor of the Maricopa Arizona Community College District, Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, applauded the decision by Arizona voters.
Dr. Gonzales said: “Throughout the years, MCCCD has fought to provide Arizona’s most affordable tuition for high quality associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and workforce training to all in-state students regardless of their immigration status. The passage of Proposition 308 will allow thousands of Arizona DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) students to pursue their dream of obtaining a higher education, and we look forward to serving them.”
Proposition 308 makes higher education more affordable and attainable for DACA students entering college for the first time or returning to college to learn new skills and re-enter the workforce.
Plan view is to develop program at CTEC and possibly at Mingus High School; Did Sedona mayor- elect Scott Jablow’s speech to the Governing Board at the November meeting possibly alter rigid thinking by Prescott based College executives regarding the future of EV training in the Verde Valley?
The five-year development plan proposed by the Prescott-based executives of Yavapai Community College, as presented at the November 2022 Governing Board meeting, suggests that they are not enthusiastic about developing a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) training program at the Verde Campus. Instead, according to the plan documents, they may consider placing an EV program of some sort at Mingus High School.
Even placing such a program at Mingus High School seemed to generate reluctance. For example, Career and Technical Education Dean John Morgan told the Governing Board that “we have leased a facility from Mingus High School in the past, but we didn’t get the desired enrollment when we tried to run it there.”
Dean Morgan also indicated that the College was far from immediately ready to institute EV training. He said that the College was “waiting a couple of years at least in our planning horizon to let the industry catch up with us.” He also said that at present EV training is proprietary. “That is, if . . . you’re on a Tesla. If something goes wrong with it, it comes up on your screen, and it says, go to your Tesla dealership.”
One bright spot for the Verde Valley was a result of Sedona’s mayor-elect Scott Jablow telling the Governing Board that Sedona was prepared to host a Community College EV training course as a part of its EV program. As a result of that speech, Dean Morgan told the Governing Board at the meeting that at some point he would consider the Sedona offer.
What follows for your information are excerpts from the College plan documents relevant to an EV training program.
Karely Rodriguez and Melissa Markgraf honored for “uncommon heroism” at a December 12 ceremony
Karely Rodriguez and Melissa Markgraf were honored for “uncommon heroism” at a December 12 ceremony on the Prescott Campus. The two in tandem provided life-saving assistance to a toddler who was experiencing a life-threatening emergency at the Community College’s Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center.
Community College Police officials and President Dr. Lisa Rhine, honored the two for their “uncommon heroism.” They were presented with the Community College Campus Safety Lifesaving Medal during the ceremony.
You may read the full press release about this award and the heroism of the two employees by clicking here.
Source: Yavapai Community College press release dated December 19, 2022.
Traditional recognition and pinning ceremony held December 8
The Yavapai Community College-based Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy, NARTA, had 28 new police officers complete their 21-week training program in the fall semester. They participated December 8 in a swearing in ceremony at the Yavapai Community College Performing Arts Center.
In addition to swearing in each officer, there were individual performance awards and the traditional pinning of badges by the new police officers’ family and others.
The officers completing the program include the following:
Aaron Walters, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Adam Miller, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office
Adam Reed, Flagstaff Police Department
Bailey Ehrlich, Sedona Police Department
Benjamin Hamilton, Prescott Police Department
Blake Hanslik, Williams Police Department
Cesar Astorga, Prescott Police Department
Chandler Wilkinson, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office
Cody Fant, Camp Verde Marshal’s Office
Cody Neitch, Williams Police Department
Dylan Schrock, Prescott Police Department
Gabidson Boisrond, Yavapai Apache Police Department
Garrick Timson, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office
Grant Pithie, Prescott Valley Police Department
Gregory Bolding, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Waugh, Yavapai Apache Police Department
Michael Ryske, Oro Valley Police Department
Nathan Chavez, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Nathanial Carlson, Page Police Department
Raphael Pellegrino, Page Police Department
Seth Hatfield, Yavapai Apache Police Department
Stephen Wood, Hualapai Nation Police Department
Tanner Knight, Prescott Police Department
Tyler Tresch, Flagstaff Police Department
William May, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office
Xavier Altamirano, Oro Valley Police Department
It was revealed at the District Board meeting that an Auto Advisory Board meets twice a year, according to College, however names, agendas, location of members, etc. remains secret
Yavapai Community College provides as little information to the public as possible about its operation. The public, for example, only accidentally learned during the November 2022 District Governing Board meeting that the Career and Technical Education unit at the College has a committee that advises it on what direction to move when various projects are proposed.
According to the brief answers given to a Board member at the November meeting, the advisory committee meets twice a year and advises the College on how it should move in developing automobile related issues such as when to move on developing its Electrical Vehicle program.
In order to obtain more information about this Committee, on November 22, 2022 the Blog made the following formal request to the College:
BLOG REQUEST: “During last Tuesday’s Board meeting Dean John Morgan mentioned he had an automotive advisory committee helping him make decisions about projects or programs at CTEC. Can you provide information as to the number of committee members, names, and areas of the county they come from such as Prescott, etc?”
COLLEGE RESPONSE: “I will work on this one. I am not sure if I will be able to gather the information before we return from break on Monday.”
It has now been a month since the request and the Blog has heard nothing further from the College. It can only be assumed that this is an area it wants to keep secret from the public.
EDITED TRANSCRIPT OF Q AND A BETWEEN THE COLLEGE AND THE GOVERNING BOARD AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING
BOARD MEMBER QUESTION: “How do you know when the EV marketplace has developed to the point where the college is going to entertain launching a program, for example, maintenance of say, a fleet of vehicles. . . .”
COLLEGE RESPONSE: “Oh, if I can answer that briefly. That’s what our advisory boards are for. They’re trying to figure things out on how to position themselves.”
COLLEGE RESPONSE: “So you know we meet twice a year with our auto advisory Board.”
BOARD MEMBER QUESTION: “And then just a follow up question, . . . what is or what comprises the Advisory Board?”
COLLEGE RESPONSE: “So our advisory boards are made up of local industry people so they can be independent dealers. They can be dealers, so they’re always people that come directly from industry that work in this every day, and that’s what we turn to to help us.”
COLLEGE RESPONSE: We have a proposition on the table that we’re trying to vet right now. There’s a movement to try to convert some of your retro vehicles to electric because there they think they’re short, lived in the marketplace, some of your especially your muscle cars.
COLLEGE RESPONSE: That’s an interesting market that’s emerging, particularly in Phoenix right now, where they’re basically taking out gas engines and replacing them with electric in the in the old muscle cars. And they’re telling us they’re doing that to entice a younger generation into those vehicles. Big difference between what they see in a dashboard of a modern electric vehicle versus what you see in a in a fifty-nine or a sixty nine barracuda.
You may view a four-minute video clip of the conversation at the November Business meeting of the Yavapai Community College Governing Board regarding the Advisory Board by clicking here.
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.
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.
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.
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:
