Chevalier defends his remark as based on conversations with Camp Verde officials and the general history of Camp Verde and the Community College | Chair says remark was inappropriate as a Governing Board member attending a Public Forum
Third District Community College Representative Paul Chevalier was chastised during the Board’s January Workshop by the Chair of the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board, Deb McCasland, for a remark he made during the first Community College public forum that focused on the College’s future development plan. That forum was held on the Clarkdale Campus in December. The new plan when finally announced will guide capital development in the District for the next eight to 10 years. In December Mr. Chevalier remarked during the public discussion portion of the Forum that the College was “not doing anything for Camp Verde” This upset Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland.
McCasland challenged Mr. Chevalier’s remark as not having a basis in fact. She said in making the remark he was not supportive of the College and was “uneducated,” and “uniformed.” Chevalier strongly disagreed. He stated that he based the remark on discussions he had with various Camp Verde Officials and the College’s history with Camp Verde. He also noted that at present there is “no community college facility in Camp Verde,” which is true.
McCasland said that the College was doing things in Camp Verde and pointed to a recent meeting she and a member of the College staff held in Camp Verde. She also said that the College was involved with small business development in Camp Verde.
President Dr. Lisa Rhine noted during this discussion that the Community College had tried three years ago to locate its first Career and Technical Education Center on Highway 260, much nearer to Camp Verde than where it was finally constructed. A Board member attributed the College’s failure to locate that project on Highway 260 to a Camp Verde citizen, not the College.
President Rhine also noted that there are a number of community members that attend the College. It’s not that Camp Verde is availing itself of the College, it’s that they want a building, she explained to the Governing Board.
Chevalier pointed out that Camp Verde is the fastest growing community in the Verde Valley with a population of 13,000 and will be adding to its population “ a lot more people.” According to him, Camp Verde citizens are asking, “We’re paying all these taxes [to support the Community College], what are we getting?”
The conversation was wide-ranging. Chevalier urged Dr. Rhine to meet with the mayor of Camp Verde to bring about a solution to problems that may exist between the citizens of Camp Verde and the Community College.
There is much more to the conversation about Camp Verde and its future with the Community College. Please see the video clip below, which is about 16 minutes long, for the complete context of the discussion about Camp Verde. The video of the entire January 28 Workshop should be available to the public once the Governing Board approves the Workshop minutes and they are posted on the Governing Board website.