Wills to remain with College only until December 2018 

The Blog has confirmed with Governing Board representative Deb McCasland that Penelope Wills has informed the Yavapai Community College Governing Board members that she is stepping down as president of Yavapai Community College effective December 2018.  The Governing Board was informed via email yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) of Wills decision.  A formal announcement is expected.

The exact reasons for Will departure are unknown.  It is known that only a few hours before the announcement that Wills was in a discussion with a Governing Board member about rumors of drug use among Community College athletes and the claimed existence of a videotape allegedly showing drug use.  This may be a coincidence or it may have played some role in her decision. At this time, the Blog can only speculate.

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Statement by Connie Harris at March Board meeting saying forum meeting participants were speaking in a “safe” and “anonymous” environment not explained; that statement plus Board calendars making no mention of the two meetings support McCasland (where is the truth?)

Yavapai Community College Board chair, Ray Sigafoos, told the Board members at the April meeting that information from “another venue” that the two community forums scheduled for April 12 and 13 (canceled) were private affairs was not correct.  He had no doubt read about this issue on the Blog.

Representative Deb McCasland explained to Sigafoos that she was told by President Penelope Wills that the two meetings were not open to the public.  Wills said McCasland was wrong.  According to Wills, her office had said that the public could observe but not participate.  McCasland challenged that statement saying she was specifically told that there was no room for the public at the meetings. (see video below)

A significant piece of evidence indicating that McCasland was telling the truth is the statement made by representative Connie Harris  a month earlier during the March 2018 Board meeting (see video below).  During that brief discussion, Harris indicated relief that the forum participants would be speaking in a “safe” and “anonymous” setting.  Such a statement can only be understood if the two forums were in fact private.

In addition, a check of the Governing board calendars for March 2018 do not indicate that the Board was attending any of the two meetings.  (Those calendars are set forth below.)

Recall that the invitation only forums were limited to various mayors and others handpicked by the College.  The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the future of the Community College in Yavapai County.  The Chair of the Governing Board indicated it was necessary to cancel the meetings because of anticipated sparse attendance.

Claims lack of attendance required canceling and rescheduling for future date

Yavapai Community College canceled the invitation only private political gatherings of mayors and other political figures scheduled for April 12 in Prescott and April 13 at the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale.  The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the future of the Community College in Yavapai County.  The Chair of the Governing Board indicated it was necessary to cancel the meetings because of expected sparse attendance.

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April 13 invitation only forum at the Community Room, Verde Valley Campus, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. intended to hide views of politicos from public so College can later spin its views on the gathering

Commentary

Yavapai Community College has remained committed to baring the press and public from observing a gathering of local political figures about the future of the College that will be held April 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the Verde Valley Campus. It has gone so far as to put together a secret list of invitees it will share with no one. It includes mayors and other elected officials from the East County. 

The College, which will control the agenda and the information supplied to the politicos, is frightened that observers and the press may challenge the accuracy and/or truthfulness of the  information it hands out during the meeting after it is closed out.  Therefore, the gathering must be protected from public and press scrutiny.

Third District Governing Board member, Connie Harris, thinks keeping the meeting hidden from the public and the press is a good idea. She said during a Board meeting that such a forum provides a place for “safe with anonymous feedback.”

Running these types of meetings reveals just how little President Wills actually believes in her claim that the College must be transparent.

Contact Silvia Allen

Senate Bill 1390, which would extend Prop 301. is scheduled to be heard by the Arizona Senate Education Committee this Thursday, March 22nd.   Losing this funding which was approved by a significant majority of the Arizona voters in 2000 will have a significant impact on the quality of education in our state. See the attached infographic to learn more about proposition 301.  Please contact Sylvia Allen our LD 6 Senator and chairman of the Senate Education committee and urge her to vote yes on Senate Bill 1390.

To keep you better informed the Blog authored over 200 stories about Yavapai Community College in 2017

The following is a list of only a few  of the more important stories posted on the Blog in 2017.  During the year, the Blog has posted over 200 stories about Yavapai Community College.  Areas of similar general interest have been grouped together.

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GOVERNING BOARD SETS NO SPECIFIC GOALS FOR PRESIDENT WILLS FOR 2018.

WILLS HIGHEST PAID COUNTY OFFICIAL: $277,811 ANNUALLY.

WHY THE ODD CLOAK OF SECRECY OVER WILLS’ TRAVEL? No formal explanation of absence from office March 21 to April 11.

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“MANSPLAINING” DIRECTED AT MCCASLAND CONTINUES DESPITE APOLOGY; LAWYER INTERVENES.

GOVERNING BOARD INSENSITIVE TO MCCASLAND HEARING DISABILITY REQUEST THAT WAS MADE AT PRIOR BOARD MEETING.

MCCASLAND WANTS VERDE VALLEY TO HAVE A YAVAPAI COLLEGE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER TO MATCH PRESCOTT FACILITY.

Mc CASLAND LISTENS TO TAXPAYERS; REMAINDER OF BOARD LISTENS TO WILLS.

WILLS, MC CARVER, SIGAFOOS FIGHT CONSULTANT SUGGESTIONS FOR CLARITY IN BOARD POLICY PROVISIONS. McCasland argues for greater detail to promote citizen awareness.

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COLLEGE SPENDS $17 MILLION DURING 2016-17  FISCAL YEAR ON CAPITAL PROJECTS. Total expenditures 148.9% of budget with overrun due to Prescott Valley building expansion and Sedona Center remodel.

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YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION AND COLLEGE MAY EXPLORE HOSPITALITY TRAINING AT NATION’S NEW HOTEL IN CAMP VERDE.

GOVERNING BOARD IGNORES YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION REQUEST FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE & EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION EXPLORING POSSIBLE NEW JUNIOR COLLEGE IN THE VERDE VALLEY.

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PEREY TELLS SEDONA COUNCIL BUILDING “L” ON VERDE CAMPUS TO BE RENOVATED AGAIN FOR NURSING/ RELATED ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS.

VERDE CAMPUS WINE CENTER STUDENTS CAPTURE JEFFERSON CUP AWARD.

COLLEGE HAS NO NEW INFORMATION ON MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT PENDING IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT REGARDING THE FIRING OF THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

WAS HARRIS LEGALLY APPOINTED TO GOVERNING BOARD INTERIM TERM? WHERE DID REVISED RESIDENCY CRITERIA COME FROM?

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BOARD CHAIR APPEARS IRRITATED AT THOUGHT OF IDENTIFYING COLLEGE AS “YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE”

GOVERNING BOARD ELIMINATES MONTHLY MEETINGS IN JUNE, JULY, AUGUST–TRAVEL DISTANCE TOO MUCH.

GOVERNING BOARD BEHAVIORS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT.

GOVERNING BOARD CONTINUES TO KEEP CHINO VALLEY IN THE DARK ON RACEWAY AS FIRST HALF OF 2017 NEARS AN END.

WILLS AND SIGAFOOS UNDERGO A SUDDEN EPIPHANY WHEN IT COMES TO CONCERN FOR THE UNDERSERVED STUDENT POPULATION.

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COCONINO COLLEGE DOWN BY 12%; LOSS OF NAU RESIDENCE HALLS & REDUCED EMPHASIS ON VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS BLAMED.

ENROLLMENT SLIGHTLY UP IN 2017 FALL SEMESTER. Headcount up by 1.6% over last fall and total credit hours up by .7%.

DUEL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM EXPERIENCES FIRST DECLINE IN TEN YEARS.

ARE ANNUAL TUITION INCREASES AT YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONSTITUTIONAL? Are courses as “nearly as free as possible?”

“LEAD” FREE BRIDGE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE BUT ENROLLMENT DOESN’T MAX OUT.” WHY?

COLLEGE HAS A STUNNING 37.85% OF STUDENTS NOW TAKING ALL OR SOME ONLINE COURSES.

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HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR CTE IN THE VALLEY: SIGAFOOS READY TO SUPPORT AT LEAST $5 MILLION FOR CENTRALIZED CTE FACILITY FOR EAST COUNTY.

BASED ON COUNTY-WIDE SUMMER SURVEY STAFF RECOMMENDS GOVERNING BOARD EXPLORE CTE IN VERDE VALLEY.

BOARD APPROVES IGA BETWEEN COLLEGE AND VALLEY ACADEMY FOR CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

HOW THE COLLEGE KILLED OFF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN THE VERDE VALLEY. What happened to the 2004 Northern Arizona Regional Skills program that was to provide CTE from the facility on the Verde Campus?

EDUCATIONAL ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION AGAINST VERDE VALLEY ILLUSTRATED IN THE COLLEGE AND DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD APPROACH TO CENTRALIZED CTE FACILITIES.

MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE JTED HEALTH PROGRAMS MOVED TO YC PRESCOTT VALLEY CENTER.

MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE PARTNER ON 75 COURSES FOR FALL 2017.

WEST COUNTY JTED DISTRICT OFFICE (Mountain Institute) NOW LOCATED AT YAVAPAI COLLEGE CTEC.

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SCAMMERS MAKING FAKE YAVAPAI COLLEGE CALLS.

INFLUENTIAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION ADDS THREE NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD. All from West County; East County has only 2 seats on 27 member Board.

WEST COUNTY GOVERNING BOARD VOTING BLOC GREATEST OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS IN THE VERDE VALLEY.

YAVAPAI COLLEGE DID NOT APPLY TO ASPEN INSTITUTE COLLEGE EXCELLENCE PROGRAM.

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SEDONA CENTER CULINARY HAS FORMAL NAME; SEEKS REGIONAL IDENTITY. Will effort fail like Film School because of lack of affordable student housing in the Verde Valley?

CULINARY COURSES ALREADY FULL AT SEDONA CENTER.

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RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY TUESDAY OCTOBER 24 CELEBRATING $4 MILLION PLUS RENOVATION/NEW CONSTRUCTION AT ALLIED HEALTH CENTER IN PRESCOTT VALLEY.

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PRESCOTT CAMPUS AMPHITHEATER GOING UP.

PRESCOTT CAMPUS RENOVATION/NEW CONSTRUCTION CHARGING AHEAD.

PRESCOTT TRAIL SYSTEM COMPLETE; VERDE EFFORT OF 25 YEARS A FAILURE.

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FREE SOCCER CLINICS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 5-16 HELD ONLY ON WEST SIDE OF COUNTY.

WHY ARE ATHLETIC SUMMER CAMPS/CLINICS ONLY ON WEST SIDE OF COUNTY?

WOW! 75% OF INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS GOING TO ATHLETES,

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DECADES OF UNEQUAL DEVELOPMENT OF MUSIC COURSES COUNTY-WIDE CONTINUES IN 2017.

Apologizes if anything he said at October meeting was construed as an attack

Yavapai Community College District Governing Board Chair Ray Sigafoos apologized at the November Board meeting for what Deb McCasland alleged was a verbal attack on her at the October meeting.  Sigafoos said that “sometimes I’m not very diplomatic and I apologize if that was taken in the wrong way.”

Ray Sigafoos

He also said that “I don’t remember the discussion at all. I’m sorry.”  McCasland reminded him that “It was lengthy—look at the video.”

Representative Pat McCarver commented that sometimes “we’re responding to questions that aren’t being asked. That there is a misunderstanding as to what the comment is.”

The approximate three minute video of the discussion and apology follows below. You may also view a video of the entire meeting by clicking here and then clicking on “Meeting Videos.”

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Responding to Sigafoos’ persistent questioning of her during the October Board meeting, Representative McCasland said:  “I feel a lot of intimidation from you.”

“Mansplaining is a blend of the word man and the informal form splaining of the verb explaining and means “to explain something to someone, characteristically by a man to woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing”.  Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansplaining.

For some who attended the October 24 Yavapai Community College District Governing Board  meeting, the exchanges between Chair Ray Sigafoos and Representative Deb McCasland created an atmosphere that was less than pleasant.  The exchanges took place over more than an hour.  Ms. McCasland eventually told Sigafoos that she “felt a lot of intimidation” from him. 

The Blog believes that the treatment of McCasland by Sigafoos fits the classic definition of “mansplaining.”

At one point during the exchanges, a member of the audience, Ms. Ruth Wicks, got up and left the meeting room.   When interviewed, she told the Blog that she could no longer stomach what she perceived as the unfair attack being waged by Sigafoos on Ms. McCasland.

McCasland, who is perceived by the Blog as having been a target for Sigafoos’ efforts at intimidation since she was elected, stated to the Blog she was not fazed by the fieriness of Sigafoos’  effort to demean or embarrass her.

Below is a four-minute clip (out of more than an hour of back and forth exchanges) that  exemplifies what the Blog believes is a classic example of mansplaining.  Review it and see if you don’t agree.  You may also view the entire Governing Board meeting and all of the exchanges on Video by clicking here and going to the College Governing Board website.

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