Board meetings were moved to Zoom weeks ago, instead of being held in person at the Prescott Campus Rock House, due to the Chair’s vague and still-unexplained alleged “safety concerns”

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold a meeting on Tuesday, April 22, via YouTube. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus. However, Board Chair Deb McCasland abruptly changed the format to a virtual Zoom meeting weeks ago, informing the Board, in part, that “after learning of safety concerns related to our board meetings,” they would be held virtually “until further notice.”

The alleged “safety concerns” remain a complete mystery, as McCasland has steadfastly refused to disclose any details to the public.

The public has seen no credible signs of the threat to holding a live meeting: no incidents, no warnings, and nothing else to suggest that an in-person meeting would pose any risk beyond the ordinary. The absence of a clear explanation has only deepened skepticism, raising questions about whether these so-called safety concerns are legitimate.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and is expected to conclude by 4 p.m. A live stream will likely be available at https://www.youtube.com/user/YavapaiCollege.

Meeting to be held on zoon as mystery surrounding Chair’s sudden announcement of “safety concerns”  remains a carefully guarded  secret

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold a meeting on Tuesday, February 18, via YouTube. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus. However, Board Chair Deb McCasland abruptly changed the format to a virtual Zoom meeting, informing the Board in part that “after learning of safety concerns related to our board meetings,” she “decided that governing board meetings will be held virtually until further notice.”

The alleged “safety concerns” remain a complete mystery, as McCasland has steadfastly refused to disclose any details to Governing Board members or the public.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and is expected to conclude by 4 p.m. A live stream will likely be available at https://www.youtube.com/user/YavapaiCollege.

It appears the first order of business will be a closed executive session, which may pertain to the undisclosed safety concerns that prompted the abrupt transition to a virtual format. The meeting notice for this session states:

Executive Session:
i. A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(8) and §38-431.03(A)(9) – Discussion and consultation with college representatives regarding facility safety and security measures. – PROCEDURAL {Time: 20}.

The only other agenda item of likely interest to most county residents is a discussion titled:

“Upholding Yavapai College District Governing Board Resolution Reaffirming Delegation of Authority and Accountability to the President – Resolution 2024-18” – Board Chair Deb McCasland.

Notably, there is no call to the public on the agenda.

Under Arizona law, the public has the right to attend, listen, record, or videotape the meeting, provided they do not disrupt the proceedings. For more information on these rights, refer to Arizona Attorney General Opinion No. I78-001.

Topics will include discussion of budget and “attorney education workshop”

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold a workshop meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and is expected to conclude by 4 p.m. A live stream of the meeting will normally be available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/YavapaiCollege.

The workshop agenda includes a discussion of the Community College budget and a lecture by the Board’s attorney entitled, “Attorney Education Workshop.” 

Members of the public are generally not permitted to speak during these workshop sessions. However, under Arizona law, the public has the right to attend, listen, record, or videotape the meeting, provided they do not disrupt the proceedings. For more information on these rights, refer to Arizona Attorney General Opinion No. I78-001.

Further updates  will be provided as they become available. The agenda is usually posted by Monday, the day prior to the meeting.

Topics will likely include election of officers and a  “refresher workshop” intended to impress upon members their extremely narrow window of responsibility, as seen by the Administration.  Actual agenda not yet posted.

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold a workshop meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and is expected to conclude around 4 p.m. A live stream of the meeting will most likely be available on YouTube.

The agenda for the workshop has not yet been published. However, it is anticipated to include the selection of District Governing Board officers and a “refresher workshop.” These workshops typically involve discussions aimed at emphasizing the Board members’ extremely limited authority as seen through the eyes of the Community College administration.  These  often include specific restrictions on whom members may communicate with and what they may disclose to their constituents. They also often include warnings against interfering with the College President’s management of the institution and an extremely narrow interpretation of Board policy, as outlined by a consultant selected by the chair with a past relationship with the Community College administration.

Members of the public are generally not permitted to speak during these workshop sessions. However, under Arizona law, the public has the right to attend, listen, record, or videotape the meeting, provided they do not disrupt the proceedings. For more information on these rights, refer to Arizona Attorney General Opinion No. I78-001.

Further updates, including the agenda, will be provided as they become available.

The meeting is anticipated to run about three hours; this is the last meeting of 2024 where business will be discussed

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold a meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Rock House on the Prescott  Campus. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and is expected to last approximately three hours. A live video stream will be available on YouTube.

The agenda normally includes an Open Call to the Public, allowing residents and other attendees an opportunity to address the Governing Board at the beginning of the meeting. Individuals wishing to speak should complete a “Request to Speak” form and submit it to the Recording Secretary prior to speaking. Speakers should be prepared to limit their remarks to the allotted time, which is usually three minutes.

Under Arizona law, the public has the right to attend, listen, record, or videotape these meetings. While attendees may not disrupt the meeting, they are welcome to speak during the Call to the Public. For further details, see Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. No. I78-001.

The agenda for the meeting is normally withheld from the public until almost the last minute that is legally allowable.  You can view the agenda when it is finally posted on Monday at https://www.yc.edu/v6/district-governing-board/sub/2024/11/index.html.

It is noted that this is the last meeting of 2024 where business will be discussed.

Delays the start of the business meeting by over an hour to accommodate a lawyer, disregarding residents and others who had driven long distances to attend

Once again, Yavapai Community College District Governing Board members were summoned by the Community College leadership into a closed executive session to discuss the potential land purchase or land lease in Prescott. This secretive meeting, which delayed the start of the general meeting by over an hour, required a last-minute agenda change, moving the executive session from its original position as the final agenda item.

Residents and other attendees, some who had traveled considerable distances, were left waiting while the Board deliberated behind closed doors. Notably, Third District representative Toby Payne cast the only dissenting vote against the abrupt agenda change.

This marks the third meeting in just over a month where land acquisition in Prescott has been quietly discussed in a closed session. At a similar meeting on October 17, the Board instructed Dr. Clint Ewell to proceed with negotiations for acquiring more property in the Prescott area.

Meanwhile, the community remains entirely in the dark as to why Yavapai Community College believes additional land in Prescott is necessary, especially given the existing campus facilities and the lack of any publicized plans for expansion or new programming. With no clear explanation from the College about how this purchase aligns with its mission or benefits taxpayers across Yavapai County, residents are left questioning whether their interests and those of outlying communities like Sedona and the Verde Valley are being fairly considered. This lack of transparency only deepens public frustration, as the College leadership continues to operate behind closed doors, making decisions with far-reaching implications without consulting or informing those directly impacted.  

Board may  most likely allow an open call to the public at the beginning of the meeting where a citizen may address the Board for up to three minutes; the entire event will be live streamed

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold its first public meeting since May 2024 at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus on Tuesday, September 24.  The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and will run an estimated three hours.  It will be live-streamed on YouTube.

There is likely to be an opportunity for residents and others to address the Governing Board at the beginning of the meeting for about three minutes.  A citizen wishing to address the Board is normally asked to complete a “Request to Speak” form before speaking, and give it to the Recording Secretary.  The speaker should be prepared to limit his or her remarks to the designated time (from one to three minutes although typically three minutes).

Under Arizona law, a citizen has a right to attend, listen, tape record, or videotape all of these meetings. The public may not disrupt, but may speak during the Call to the Public at the beginning of this meeting if the call is on the agenda. See Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. No. I78-001.

The workshop is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. and may run to 4:00 p.m.

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board will hold what is described as a “Board Self-Assessment Workshop” on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus.  It is unclear what, if any, additional business will be conducted.

There is usually no open call to the public at these workshops but be sure to check the agenda when it is posted.

Under Arizona law, a citizen has a right to attend, listen, tape record, or videotape all of these meetings. The public may not disrupt, but may speak during the Call to the Public at the beginning of a meeting if the call is on the agenda. See Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. No. I78-001.

You may access the agenda for this meeting at the District Governing  Board’s website when it is eventually posted. (It is normally sent to the Governing Board by Friday prior to a meeting but is usually withheld from public posting on the Governing Board’s website until the day before the meeting.)

This is the last Board meeting scheduled until next fall.

There is normally an  open call to the public at this meeting, which will  be live streamed for County residents to view

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold what is described as a “Study Session” and then a “Business Meeting” at the Yavapai Community College Prescott Campus on Tuesday, April 23,  2024.  The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m. It will be held at the Rock House on the Campus. The study session normally precedes the business meeting.

There is normally an open call to the public where one may address the Governing Board on any subject for three minutes. (You can register at the door to speak.)

Under Arizona law, a citizen has a right to attend, listen, tape record, or videotape all of these meetings. The public may not disrupt, but may speak during the Call to the Public at the beginning of this meeting if the call is on the agenda. See Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. No. I78-001.

You may access the agenda for this meeting at the District Governing  Board’s website when it is eventually posted. (It is normally sent to the Governing Board by Friday prior to a meeting but is usually withheld from public posting on the Governing Board’s website until the day before the meeting.)

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m. There is normally an  open call to the public at this meeting. The possibility exists that the meeting will be live streamed for County residents to view; check agenda when posted and the College’s YouTube site on Tuesday

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold what is described as a “Study Session” and then a “Business Meeting” at the Sedona Campus on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.  The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m.

Under Arizona law, a citizen has a right to attend, listen, tape record, or videotape all of these meetings. The public may not disrupt, but may speak during the Call to the Public at the beginning of this meeting if the call is on the agenda. See Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. No. I78-001.

You may access the agenda for this meeting at the District Governing  Board’s website when it is eventually posted. (It is normally sent to the Governing Board by Friday prior to a meeting but is usually withheld from public posting on the Governing Board’s website until the day before the meeting.)

There is a possibility that the meeting will be live streamed.  Check the agenda when it is posted.

IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO INCREASING YOUR PROPERTY TAX, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO EXPRESS YOU VIEW TO THE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD AT THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC.

The agenda must be posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.