FOR FOLKS “ON THE BUS,” DO YOU WANT TO STAY ON OR TAKE A RIDE?”

At the District Governing Board meeting August 9, 2016 President Penelope Wills sent  a stern message to faculty and others about not going along with her “bus,” over the next several months. She said that the “blocks” are in place, which most listening to her interpreted as her programs were in place.

She then told the Governing Board that at Monday’s convocation the call will be to say, “excuse me, all these blocks are in place, we’re all moving in this direction, there’s a few parts of that arrow that are dragging us back, and . . . it’s time to tell folks that are on the bus, `do you want to stand, or do you want to take  a ride?’  And that message will be delivered. To say, hey, we need the urgency of time and the urgency to transform this institution into the most vibrant institution. Not only for the present but the future is now. The blocks are all here. The ingredients are all here.”

Wills’ did not elaborate on precisely what she was talking about or identify the “arrows” she said were apparently holding back progress.  However, it appeared she was sending some kind of warning for those who might oppose her programs. 

You may view her speaking to the District Governing Board (about 2 minute clip) on this issue at the August meeting by clicking here

Integrity, honesty and a voice for the Verde Valley

Deb McCasland has announced that she will seek a second term as the Second District representative on the Community College District Governing Board.  She defeated Harold Harrington two years ago in a landslide and has fought for the Verde Valley since her election.

Deb McCasland

McCasland is a breath of fresh air on a Governing Board that has three members, all of whom live on the West side of the County, who refuse to provide students and residents on the East side of the County with equal access to the same learning opportunities that exist on the West side of the County.  She is committed to working on breaking down that discriminatory barrier and cracking the Prescott dominated voting block.

An excellent, extensive interview with Ms. McCasland by Bill Helm in the April 10 Verde Independent can be read by clicking here.

Selection came down to James Perey and Ron Liss; rumors say Perey is out

 (Click here to link to the College web page showing the two finalists for this position and listing their backgrounds.)

Rumors regarding the final selection for the Vice President of Instruction and Development are rampant on the Verde Campus.  Most are saying that Dean James Perey, who has served as executive Dean of the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale and the Sedona Center  since 2012, did not make the grade.  

Are rumors correct that Ron Liss is next VP?

An announcement was expected today (Wednesday, March 22) but so far none is forthcoming.  We should know shortly whether the rumors were correct.

The selection committee for the Vice President’s position was made up of the following:

Search Committee

• Dr. Clint Ewell: Chair – VP of Finance & Administrative Services
• Monica Belknap: Liaison – Human Resources Director
  

• Nikki Bagley, Viticulture Faculty, Verde Valley Campus
• Dr. Selina Bliss, Nursing Faculty, Prescott Campus
• Patrick Burns, District Director of ITS
• Joy D’Angelo, Business Administration Faculty
• James Elphik, YCSA President
• Dennis Garvey, Dean of Lifelong Learning
• Dave Gorman, Mathematics Faculty, Faculty Senate President
• Heather Mulcaire, Student Development, Verde Valley Campus
• Tania Sheldahl, Dean of Student Development
• Marnee Zazueta, Agriculture Faculty, Chino Valley Center
• Jennifer Perkins, Student

Board Chair says it is a “really good marketing tool for us.” 
But contains little to nothing about faculty or programs:  Is it using taxpayer money for political purposes?

Commentary

The Community College claims it is losing enrollment and desperately needs to increase student tuition while slapping a $10 per credit student fee to be paid by taxpayers for some community college classes now being taught in high schools.  It says it will lose around $2 million in the coming year.  Despite this claimed desperate need, it spent thousands of dollars on staff time and on printing costs, all paid by taxpayer dollars, to produce a self-congratulatory 16 page glossy catalog. (Like Macey’s)  It looks little more than like a very, very expensive political handout. 

This is the second time the Administration has put together such a hand-out.  The first was in 2014 when I believe it was created to help two board members in contested elections.  It failed. The present catalog is designed to coax Board members to find shelter under the wing of the administration via photos and self-congratulatory rhetoric.  It’s a political tool.

The claim it can be using it for marketing the college; if so, it misses that mark by a mile. There are only smatterings that would interest a prospective student or the student’s family.

Astonishingly, there is almost nothing in detail in the catalog about faculty, faculty accomplishments, and a commitment “excellence”  (if there is any such commitment).  And no faculty photos per se.   From my perspective, it is a pithy piece of self-congratulatory mush.

There is a full-pager letter to the “College owners”  signed by the Chair.  I doubt anyone considering enrolling as a student would bother to look at it. (Who is this thing being marketed to?  To residents so they will vote for Board members at the next election?)

A full page is devoted to the Governing Board photos and resumes.  A student considering enrolling at the College would find this page of no interest. Moreover, Board member photos dominate the report with the Chair’s various photos, who most see as the hand-maiden of the administration, most prominent.

There’s a full page devoted to “Board ends,” which would be foreign to most prospective students and their families.  The height ridiculousness is a full-page devoted to trying to explain “Policy Governance,” with an appropriate copyright notice to John Carver attached to it.  Just incredible!

The College administration no doubt believes that this document will help it cement relationship with Governing Board members.  Well, maybe it will.  But for taxpayers, it is a an example of how the current administration simply wastes scarce financial resources while crying out for more.

The catalog can be found by clicking here.

A much shorter catalog, that was also produced, can be found by clicking here.

The self-congratulatory statements made by the Board Chair about the material can be seen by clicking here.

West County fears losing power, control of Verde Valley tax money; 50 years of oppression continues

A motion by Verde Valley District #3 Governing Board representative Al Filardo made at the March 1, 2016 District Governing Board meeting to consider hiring a third party consultant to study the College’s current administrative structure was shot down by the West County voting block. 

The West County representatives realize that right now that side of the Mountain is in line for $100 million dollars of taxpayer money to finance various building projects while the East side may get about $5 million in development.  They no doubt fear  that an independent consultant might recommend a much more equitable distribution of funds and a fairer distribution of power between Prescott and the Verde Valley.  That is something the those in control on the West side of the County absolutely do not want to do, that is, share equitably in anything with the East side of the County.

The vote to hire an independent consultant to examine many models of College structure was 3-2, with all the Prescott/Prescott Valley representatives voting against the motion.  Ms. Deb McCasland and Mr. Al Filardo, the East representatives, voted for the motion.