“Efficiency is not, and should not be, the mission of a community college,” says Gary LaMaster, Chair, Verde Valley Community College Citizen Advocates

“Efficiency is not, and should not be, the mission of a community college. The mission should be to serve its communities,” wrote Gary LaMaster, the Chair of the Verde Valley Community College Citizen Advocates, in a letter to the Verde Independent of August 20.  He stated that “In 2009-2010, the college cut classes and staff on the Verde campus at the very time community college enrollment should have been increasing as workers displaced by the Great Recession looked to re-educate themselves to find new employment. To make matters worse, the college suspended virtually all outreach and communications in the Verde Valley. This further reduced enrollment.”

LaMaster also wrote that the District Governing Board is “split 3-2 in favor of the west county. Given that split, we can only hope that the administration and one of the Board members representing the west county will take into account the best interests of the Verde Valley. We’ll need to keep a watchful eye.”   Mr. LaMaster’s entire letter to the editor in the Verde Independent can be accessed by clicking here. 

Can’t complete an Associate Degree at the Clarkdale campus, because the classes are not there

Yavapai Community College student Deborah Wilson stated in a letter to the editor of the Verde Independent that Students on the Clarkdale campus want “nothing more than the same education opportunities available in Prescott.”  She also stated that “students attending Yavapai College in Clarkdale feel nothing but frustration trying to set up a degree program here, and move on to explore educational opportunities elsewhere. If the administration at Yavapai College in Prescott, really cared about young people living on this side of the mountain, they would make changes at the Clarkdale campus. Students here want nothing more than the same opportunities available in Prescott.”  Ms. Wilson’s complete letter to the editor may be accessed by clicking here. 

Larson Newspapers Managing Editor editorial blasts Wills’ comments at June 9 District Board meeting

The Managing Editor of the Sedona Red Rock News, Christopher Fox Graham, blasted Dr. Penelope Wills for her comments about the newspaper, its editorials, and cartoons in the June 24 issue of the Sedona Red Rock News. In her update to the Yavapai College board at its June 9 meeting, Penelope Wills blamed Larson Newspapers for the potential loss of the $4.5 million DK Ranch land donation in the Verde Valley.  She cited a cartoon and an editorial without naming the newspaper, which was obviously the Sedona Red Rock News.

Christopher Fox Graham

In his editorial response to the Wills’ accusations, Mr. Graham wrote that Wills’ incorrectly stated to the Board that the News had “submitted what I consider a very inappropriate cartoon and an editorial . . ..” He stated that “In fact the News did not submit anything to Steele Foundation or the land broker.”

On Wills’ failure to identify the News when speaking to the Board, Mr. Graham wrote that “she would at least have mentioned our newspaper by name. Since she apparently spends so little time on this side of Mingus Mountain and even less so thinking about the value of Verde Valley taxpayers, I’m not surprised she doesn’t know the names of any Verde Valley publications, though we’re flattered she knows our impact in the community.”

Mr. Graham also stated that “There have been dozens of letters to the editor from you, our loyal readers, condemning the college’s behavior and its 10-Year Plan. I have not seen one letter advocating the college collect our $12 million per year while only returning a fraction of that in capital improvements over the next decade. Nor have any suggested dumping our tax money on a new college campus in the vacant Prescott Valley area is a good idea. None have applauded the college for slashing Verde Valley education programs like the climax of a samurai film.”

There is much more. The entire editorial written by Mr. Graham can be accessed and read by clicking here.

Editorial charges College wants more but offers nothing–but happy to steal our cash

A May 22, 2015  editorial written by Red Rock News managing editor, Christoper Fox Graham, blistered the Community College for asking for a property tax increase while offering little more in educational programs in the Verde Valley.

Mr. Graham charged that “despite meetings and seeming steps toward equanimity, the college has yet to listen as it has not made any changes to its 10-year plan.”  He pointed out that the Verde Campus Executive Dean who is the “best advocate for the Verde Valley has no real community connection to his students other than having an occasionally-used office on this side of the mountain.”

Christopher Fox Graham

Graham observed that “the college already raised tuition and fees on students and now, to add insult to injury, the college is asking for as much as a 2 percent property tax increase to help pay for the misguidance in shifting programs and construction projects away from Verde Valley taxpayers who are asked to foot the increased bill.”

He concluded that “a county community college is supposed to serve all county residents equally. Yavapai College hasn’t and it appears that short of a lawsuit or secession from the taxing district or even the county, college officials will continue to ignore us but be happy to steal our cash.”

The complete editorial may be read by clicking here.