After decades, Board puts an end to the enlightened view that Board activities should be fully transparent to the County taxpayers

After decades of openness, the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board has made a sudden shift in its approach to transparency. The Board now requires anyone seeking draft minutes of a meeting to follow the formal process outlined by Arizona’s Public Records Act. This marks a significant departure from the Board’s decades-long policy of readily providing such information by promptly posting it on its website. Furthermore, the Board has discontinued the practice of making videotapes of meetings available within three business days, if ever. This change appears to stem from concerns that the videotapes were fostering excessive accountability and transparency, elements the Board now is eager to avoid.

This retreat from openness may be driven by fears over what residents of Yavapai County might discover about the Board’s actions. For instance, during the January 16, 2024, meeting, there was allegedly an incident involving some Board members making remarks about a Prescott woman, which triggered a kerfuffle of sorts with the Board attorney over the remarks.

The College has informed the Blog that it will not post a draft of the minutes from the January 16th Governing Board meeting without a formal Public Records request. This move seems designed to make accessing the draft minutes as difficult and obscure as possible. Moreover, the College is also neglecting the Blog’s request for an unedited copy of the video recording of the January 16 meeting, despite a formal public records request being made for it.

Below is the letter from the College telling the Blog it must make a formal statutory request using the College’s form if it wants to see a draft of the minutes (while ignoring the request for the videotape made by the Blog).

No business transacted

A holiday dinner party was held for the five members of the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board on Wednesday, December 6 at Murphy’s Restaurant in Prescott. No business was transacted during the dinner.  The public was not invited.

Only information provided County residents after Tuesday’s meeting  was a Board motion stating that it “accepts the goals” it set during the secret meeting

Robert Oliphant, Editor

EDITORIAL:  In the shadows of secrecy, the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board met on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, with a significant agenda item—establishing goals for Dr. Rhine in the upcoming academic year. The veil of confidentiality shrouding the meeting would be comical except for its importance to County residents.

Following the closed-door secret executive session, a motion was passed, stating, “We accept the goals that we all set for Dr. Rhine and look forward to a prosperous 2023-2024.” A harmless  statement  concealing a disquieting truth  about what was actually decided..

It is of concern that there was a total absence of any prior discussion about setting goals in the public domain. It is as if the residents of Yavapai County have been left in the dark, their curiosity about the health of the College and the goals set for the College’s chief executive is being met by the Governing Board with a resounding silence. The secrecy that surrounds these objectives denies County taxpayers any insight into the very essence of their Community College’s aspirations for the coming year.

The consequences of this secrecy extend beyond mere curiosity. It fundamentally undermines the principles of transparency and accountability that should be the bedrock of any publicly funded educational institution. Without knowledge of the goals established, residents are rendered impotent in their ability to assess the achievements and progress of Dr. Rhine as the College’s president.

In essence, the result of the Governing Board’s secrecy erases any semblance of public accountability. The very residents who support Yavapai Community College with their hard-earned tax dollars are denied the right to participate in the essential process of evaluating their College’s leadership.

Moreover, the lack of transparency has a domino effect. It renders residents incapable of determining whether the Governing Board itself is effectively executing its duty of setting goals and providing effective direction for the College. The College, which is funded to the tune of over a hundred million dollars a year by taxpayers, deserves an open and participatory governance process that safeguards the public interest.

Hiding these goals behind closed doors not only robs residents of their rightful involvement but also obscures the path Yavapai Community College is intending to take over the coming year. What were these goals, and how do they reflect the aspirations of the diverse communities in the County? These questions remain unanswered, lingering in the shadows, casting a pall over the institution’s integrity.

It is imperative that the Community College  uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and public engagement. The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board must recognize its responsibility to the residents it serves, for it is they who entrust it with their resources and their aspirations.

Second consecutive year McCasland has been recognized nationally; Monahan described as a “dedicated educator and former law enforcement officer with a passion for empowering others”

In a press release issued by Yavapai Community College on September 15 it was announced that District Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland and Professor Jerald Monahan were regional winners and national finalists for the Association of Community College Trustees awards. Last year, McCasland received the American Association of Community Colleges’ Trustee of the Year award.

The American Association of Community College Trustees is a nonprofit business involved with advocacy efforts aimed at federal government. It also provides Yavapai Community College for a charge its educational services, including annual conventions and seminars, instructional publications, and other board services.  The College has hired it in a number of capacities over the years.

You may read the press release from Yavapai Community College written by JJ McCormack that contains additional information about the recognition by clicking here.

The award recognizes her “significant contributions,” “demonstrated exceptional leadership” while presiding “over significant achievements” as Governing Board Chair

Yavapai Community College District Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland was named national trustee of the year April 4, 2023, by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) at its annual meeting in Denver, Colorado. Ms. McCasland is a Yavapai Community College almna  who has served on the District Governing Board for eight years, the last three as Chair. 

District Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland

She was nominated for the AACC Trustee of the Year award by Dr. David B. Borofsky, Director of the Arizona Association of Community College Trustees. The award celebrates a trustee who has made significant contributions to the college, demonstrated exceptional leadership, and presided over significant achievements that benefit the college, district, state, system, or foundation.

In his nomination letter, Borofsky lauded McCasland’s “amazing growth” as a leader, her tireless community engagement and statewide advocacy efforts, and her unmatched passion for student success. “She is THE trustee who is focused on student success,” Borofsky wrote.

“Chair McCasland avidly supports [Yavapai Community College,] its students, and our communities. She is a true leader, and her passion and dedication towards student success never waivers,” said Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of the College. “There is nobody more deserving of this award than Deb.”

In 1976, McCasland began her 34-year career at the College as the Yavapai Community College Student Activities Director. Among her many achievements before joining the Community College Governing Board were founding and developing the Community Events program and the Performing Arts Charitable Endowment. In 2010, she was chosen as an Outstanding Yavapai College alumnus. She retired from Yavapai Community College in 2011 as Director of Major Gifts  for the Community College Foundation. She has been elected three times to represent District Two on the Yavapai College District Governing Board.

The AACC is a non-profit advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. It represents nearly 1,200 institutions and more than 11 million students. The Awards of Excellence reflect and advance the association’s priorities and spotlight “promising practices” among member colleges.

To learn more about YC, visit  http://ww.yc.edu.

Source:  Yavapai Community College press release of April 4, 2023, which you may view here: https://www.yc.edu/v6/news/2023/04/deborah.html

April disclosure, if it occurs,  follows February 24, 2023,  Board Executive meeting where Community College staff received secret direction regarding “affordable housing” and  potential purchase of real property in Yavapai County near Prescott Valley, and negotiations for potential lease of real property in Yavapai County near Verde Valley

Yavapai Community College has included in its draft capital improvement budget, unwrapped at the March 2023 Governing Board meeting, an expenditure of $3.4 million for “Workforce Housing.” At that meeting the Community College’s  Prescott-based executives were unable or unwilling to disclose precisely how the money would be used. 

The executives indicated at the March meeting that how the funds would be used would be disclosed at the April meeting, where a final Capital budget  would be produced.  To date, neither the public nor the Blog have any further information about this expenditure.

Please click here to take you to the Blog story about the Executive meeting in February 2023 where the statement by the Board was made regarding the directions to the staff about the property lease and purchase was made.

Took oath of office  Tuesday, March 21 at Governing Board meeting

Clarkdale’s Mr. Toby Payne was sworn in to fill the unexpired two-year term of Mr. Paul Chevalier at the Yavapai Community College District Governing Tuesday, March 21 Governing Board meeting in Sedona  by Yavapai County School Superintendent Mr. Tim Carter.

Payne, is a  resident of Clarkdale and was appointed to the District 3 seat vacated in January. District 3 consists of Big Park, Bridgeport 1 and 2, Clarkdale, Clemenceau, Coffee Pot, Cottonwood, Fir, Jacks Canyon, Jerome 1 and 2, Mingus, Orchard, Quail Springs, Red Rock 1 and 2, Red Rock East, Red Rock West, Verde Village, Western, and Wild Horse.   His term will run through 2024.

 Governing Board chair Deb McCasland welcomed Mr. Pay to the Governing Board.  She said that she was excited to welcome Toby Payne to our Board and believes he will be a great representative for our students and the communities in the Verde Valley and all of Yavapai County.”

You may find more information about Mr. Payne by clicking here and you will be taken to a Blog story about him.  You may also visit the press release about his appointment issued by the Community College of March 21, 2023 by clicking here