Record shows West County reps on Governing Board voted down 80% of major recommendations coming from Verde Valley citizens group; left other major issues in hands of Administration with minimal direction

Over the past three years the citizens in the Verde Valley have spoken out about the need for greater development of post-secondary education. They were particularly vocal in voicing their concerns to the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee. Recall that the committee was unceremoniously shuttered during the fading minutes of a a-long Governing Board retreat in September 2016.

During its existence, the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee (VVBAC) made about two dozen specific recommendations for improvement. The District Governing Board formally considered five of them and rejected all but one.

There were also 16 recommendations made to the Governing Board that it never formally considered on an individual basis.

Five recommendations made to Governing Board with all but one voted down by the West County Governing Board representatives 3 – 2:

1. VVBAC recommended no tax rate increase in 2015-16. This recommendation was rejected by the District Governing Board 3-2. As a result, the County property tax rate was increased.
2. Former representative Al Filardo and then the VVBAC recommended obtaining an independent outside expert to assess the efficacy of creating an Administrative College or other model for operating the Community College in the Verde Valley. This recommendation was ejected by District Governing Board 3-2 (vote was on Filardo’s motion; VVBAC recommendation followed and was ignored).
3. The VVBAC recommended no tuition increase. This was rejected by District Governing Board 3-2.
4. The VVBAC recommended that the Sedona Center not be closed and sold. This recommendation was approved on a 5 – 0 vote.
5. The VVBAC recommended no fees be assed to County high school students receiving College credit in courses taught in County high schools by high school faculty with facilities and administration paid by the high school. This was rejected by the Administration and Governing Board in March 2016.

There also was a general request that the VVBAC, the College Administration, and the Governing Board meet as a group and discuss issues involving the Verde Valley.  This was ignored.

16 recommendations Governing Board never took individual action on; left it up to the College to respond in some fashion:

1. Allocate a far greater percentage of financial resources generated in the Verde to the Verde.
2. Establish effective and efficient local decision-making through a Verde Advocate structure rather than through Prescott.
3. Implement an ongoing Verde marketing and recruitment program of continuous and direct interaction with Verde lower and secondary education students and their parents.
4. Focus on increasing student numbers in the Verde.
5. In the Verde Valley create a CTE building for classes in fields that meet the needs of Verde residents.
6. Prioritize building a state of the art delivery system.
7. Add sufficient remote learning centers for distance learning opportunities.
8. Provide and increase core transfer courses.
9. Provide and increase multiple pathways of 2+1, 2+2, Certification, and CTE.
10. Increase Verde scholarship and financial assistance and maintain an affordable tuition rate.
11. Add focus on working with governments in all Verde communities to increase broadband coverage that can be used by the college.
12. Fund all capital projects privately or through bonding rather than taxes, tuition and fees.
13. Further incorporate workforce demand analysis in education decision-making. Build stronger local partnerships for business development and job creation.
14. Focus on solutions for Verde affordable student housing.
15. Encourage the immediate exploration of alternative models or structures to increase Foundation related activities and fund raising in the Verde. 
16. Recommend revised criteria for evaluating investment needed for new programs as well as criteria for continuing programs.

Goal of everyone is better educational opportunities for the Verde Valley: the problem is Dr. Wills

Commentary

In an editorial in the Verde Independent, the editor asks, “Can we pull together for sake of young adults?” The editor goes on to urge cooperation between all the various groups in the Verde Valley and the College.  You may read the editorial by clicking here.

We agree! But there’s a problem.

The Blog strongly agrees with the sentiment expressed in the editorial.  It has been the goal of the advocates for an Administrative College for the past two years and the Blue Ribbon Verde Valley Governing Board Advisory Committee in the last several months to join all parties in a cooperative working relationship.  The problem, to put it bluntly, is Dr. Penelope Wills.

First resident group meeting seeking cooperation two years ago fails

Two years ago, following the huge turnout of residents on March 4, 2014 at the District Governing Board meeting to protest the closing of the Sedona Center, a select group of Verde Valley residents was quietly put together to meet with Dr. Wills and discuss how the Valley could cooperate with the College in the future.  A meeting was arranged.  However, the members of the group, to a person, left the meeting with Dr. Wills shaking their heads.  Their perception was that she was neither interested in cooperation nor their ideas.  

Supervisors joint meeting ignored

On September 21, 2015 the Yavapai County Supervisors voted to remove the College representative from the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Workforce Development Board (WDB).  During that discussion Supervisor “Chip” Davis expressed his concern  about the College’s recent behavior in the Verde Valley. He addressed his remarks to Governing Board representative Al Filardo: “I beg of you, pass on to your board that we are waiting with open arms for a great relationship.  But the one that has been coming out of there for the last few years has been very disruptive and nonproductive.”  Davis went on to suggest a joint meeting between the College and the Supervisors.  That request was ignored by the College and no meeting ever occurred.

Board Advisory Committee cooperative overture rejected

Four months ago (November, 2015), Mr. Paul Chevalier, the Chair of the Blue Ribbon Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee, pleaded with the Governing Board to create a series of meetings consisting of the Advisory Committee, Governing Board, and the College administration to discuss sixteen recommendations made by the Committee to improve educational opportunities in the Verde Valley.  You may view Mr. Chevalier’s request to the Governing Board by clicking here. The suggestion from Mr. Chevalier was met with outright hostility by the Chair of the District Governing Board, Pat McCarver. It was ignored by Wills’ and her staff.

The problem, to put it bluntly, is Dr. Penelope Wills.

The bottom line is this:  As long as Penelope Wills heads the College, cooperation with the Verde Valley will be stingy at best. And in reality, nonexistent.