Archive for Politics – Page 15

Recall Pat McCarver Trial Baloon

By R. Oliphant
Monday, February 8th, 2016

Letter to editor seeks recall of Governing Board Chair

In a letter to the editor of the Cottonwood Journal of January 13, 2016 John Lamerson of Prescott floated a trial balloon seeking support to recall the Governing Board Chair Pat McCarver.  Lamerson wrote that “Yavapai College is spending millions of taxpayer education projects with minimal educational value.”

recall“Millions of badly needed education dollars are being poured into a professional tennis complex, an 1,105-seat dinner theatre –the only one of its kind in the nation – and other building projects on the Prescott campus,” he opined. 

With frustration Lamerson wrote that “We see no alternative but to obtain that one fiscally responsible vote on the District Governing Board to stop this outlandish spending of dollars for non-educational projects. To this end, the people of Yavapai County are called upon to recall Governing Board member, Pat McCarver.”

 

Categories : Politics

Is Wills’ being overpaid while college collapses?

By R. Oliphant
Monday, February 1st, 2016

Cottonwood Journal Extra raises question of overpayment to Penny Wills’ for running Yavapai College, which is steadily losing students

In a story written by Zachery Jerrnigan appearing in the January 20, 2016 Cottonwood Journal Extra, the question of the appropriateness of College President Penelope Wills’ salary was raised.

OVERPAIDThe article made the following points:

Wills’ salary has reportedly received an increase each year in her salary (up 22.73% in total since 2011) despite the continuing decline in enrollment.  Enrollment has declined (using College headcount numbers) about 2,000 since Wills’ became president.

The median salary nationwide for all Community College presidents in 2012 showed a “mean base” of $173,848.  Wills’ reportedly  receives around $270,000.

Jernigan wrote that “with enrollment of 8,400, Wills’ salary equates to $30.08 per student. The president of Pima College salary is comparable but with 37,000 students equates to $7.84 per student. The president of Arizona State University’s salary is double Wills’ but has 70,000 students, equating to $6.79 per student.”

You may read the online version of the story by clicking here.  

Categories : Budget, Editorials/Essays, Politics

McCasland seeks greater open communication from Wills’; changes in Board behavior

By R. Oliphant
Monday, January 11th, 2016

Expresses serious concerns about lack of effective Administration communication and poor Board behavior

The Wills’ administration has on occasion admitted it is not good at communication.  That failing was again evident from Governing Board Representative Deb McCasland’s  written remarks, which are contained in the January 12 Governing board agenda.  (You may view the agenda by clicking here.) 

Deb McCaslandUnder the Carver model of governance adopted by the Governing Board, Wills is obligated to keep the Governing Board members well informed. McCasland expressed obvious concern that Wills’ was not meeting that obligation.  McCasland wrote that “information that affects the Board should be shared with all the Board members as it occurs, not just select individuals.” She wrote that “open communication is very important to provide trust and respect, Finding out about college administrative matters in the press and not first from the President is not effective communication.” 

She continued that:

“notifications to the Board are not timely. Too often I found out about administrative changes through news releases in the newspapers, not from Dr. Wills.” 

McCasland also raised questions about how the Governing Board was functioning.  She stated that “We need to have more discussion on intended long-term impacts on the communities. We are lacking in our civic trusteeship obligation to all the owners of our district. Verde Valley owners have legitimate concerns that are not being addressed.”

Finally, she stated that:

 “Board meetings are not an open exchange of opinions or comments. Often Board members insult other members, individuals and committees of the Board. (This policy) needs to be readdressed and defined.”

Categories : Complaints, Policy Governance Indoctrination, Politics

Blog’s Pinocchio of the Year Award

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, December 29th, 2015

Steve Irwin wins by a nose

steve irwin a vote for me equals no new taxes STEVE IRWIN PINOCCIO

Governing Board Director Steve Irwin won the Blog’s Pinocchio of the Year award, although the voting was close.  When Mr. Irwin ran his 2014 campaign for the District Governing Board seat, he made what most people believed was a clear and specific promise to not raise property taxes on Yavapai County taxpayers.  When the Blog looked at his Facebook page in 2014 that promise seemed clear. 

Here are the postings on his 2014 Facebook page:

October 31, 2014:  “You have a choice—get out and vote for Steve Irwin #YavapaiCollegeGoverning Board as a member of Yavapai College Governing Board I promise to help guide the College in Financial Responsibility and be a strong supporter of not raising your property taxes while requiring a higher quality of education.”

October 19, 2014: * * * “A vote for me equals NO NEW TAXES.”

However, Mr. Irwin earned this year’s award when at the June, 2015 Governing Board meeting he had the chance to abide by his pre-election promise. Instead, he was the swing vote on the five member board that resulted in a property tax increase for County residents.  He also voted to increase student tuition; the 10th year tuition in some form has been increased.

The final vote was 3-2 with Deb McCasland and Al Filardo dissenting.

Categories : Politics, Yavapai Community College

2015 in Review: Verde Valley suffers heavy losses

By R. Oliphant
Friday, December 25th, 2015

Penelope Wills’ administration and West voting block romp over East County in 2015

Frustraterd

 

In reviewing 2015 it is clear that the once again the residents of the East side of Mingus Mountain were trampled by the political power of the West County Wills’ administration and the three-member voting block representing the West County.  Virtually every effort by the Verde Valley to stop the wild spending spree for more and more construction and renovation under the current Administration failed.  A call to come together and “cooperate” in solving the post-secondary education issues in the Verde Valley was ignored by College President Penelope Wills’ and her handlers. They no doubt raised a champagne toast at their year-end party to their continued political post-secondary educational trouncing of the Verde Valley.  Here is the record:

Stomping on high school students for revenue. The Penelope Wills’ administration announced at the December 8, 2015 Governing Board meeting that it was moving ahead on charging each high school student who takes a dual enrollment class at a high school in Yavapai County at least a $10 per credit fee. The administration ignored a letter from all eight Verde Valley Superintendents opposing such a fee. The administration also ignored a letter delivered to the Board containing the unanimous recommendation of the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee opposing such a fee.

Folks say Wills administration should leave. A poll conducted by the Sedona Redrock News in the late fall showed that 90% of the persons responding were dissatisfied with Yavapai College and its current administration.  Click here to see the poll. Given Wills’ comfortable salary, it is very doubtful she will ever leave. 

Wills’ keeps tight reigns on Verde Valley. The Wills’ administration continued its strategy of filling top administrative spots in the Verde Valley with trusted Prescott employees with the appointment of Kelly Trainer as Assistant Dean. The top four administrators on the Verde Campus/Sedona Center all reside in the Prescott area and are considered Wills’ loyalists.

Wow—now you know why millions in construction money is available to Wills. The Arizona Tax Research Association (ATRA) released a report in September, 2015 showing that Yavapai College is collecting double the amount of property tax per full-time student than is the average in Arizona.  You may read the report by clicking here.  Despite this evidence, Wills’ insisted on increasing student tuition and property taxes in 2015.

You’ve got to be kidding. A wine tasting room was opened on the Verde Campus with the College setting $50,000 as the revenue goal for the room in its first year of operation.

Don’t tread on me. The suggestion by the Board Advisory Committee for a joint meeting with the Governing Board, the Administration and the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee to discuss a long list of post-secondary educational issues affecting the Valley  was snubbed by Wills’ and the three-member voting block on the West side of the County. In response to the Advisory Committee’s Chair’s request for a meeting, District Governing Board Chair Pat McCarver said in ignoring the request:  “You shouldn’t have to negotiate with our own committee.”

So, I was fibbing; I’m a politician. New District Governing Board member Steve Irwin had his first chance to vote on a property tax increase in June. During his campaign for the Board seat in 2014 he had promised that “A vote for me equals no new taxes.”  Irwin was the swing vote that pushed property taxes up once again for County homeowners.  So much for facebook political campaign promises.

Property taxes go up. The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee recommended to the Governing Board that it not increase property taxes at its June, 2015 meeting. The District Governing Board (3-2) voted to increase taxes.  This was the 6th time in the last ten years that property taxes have been increased. (The dissenting votes were the two Verde Valley representatives.)  Residents now pay more in primary property taxes to Yavapai College than to Yavapai County.

Keep hitting the College students for more money. The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee recommended no tuition increase in 2015. The District Board 3-2 voted to increase tuition—the 10th time tuition of some kind was increased in the last ten years.  (The dissenting votes were the two Verde Valley representatives.)

What? You need a plan? Not in Prescott. The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee recommended that there be a short moratorium on building projects until a strategic plan that included the Verde Valley and Sedona be in place.  It was ignored at the June, 2015 Board meeting by a vote of 3-2.  (The dissenting votes were the two Verde Valley representatives.) Read More→

Categories : Politics, Underserving the Verde Valley

Verde representatives question appointment of Associate Dean to Verde Campus

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, December 19th, 2015

Governing Board has no say in hiring as Prescott folks dominate Verde Valley posts

The Verde Valley representatives to the District Governing Board raised questions about the appointment of the new Associate Dean of the Verde Valley Campus in a story written by Zachary Jernigan for the December 18 edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.  The last four important positions in the Verde Valley have all been made by President Penelope Wills and have gone to Prescott employees who live in the Prescott/Prescott Valley/Chino Valley area.  (The names, positions, and residence of the appointments are contained in the diagram that appears below.)

Prescott dominatin in the Verde Valley 2

 

The Verde Valley is getting shafted

District Two Representative Deb McCasland told Mr. Jernigan during her interview that “I think the Verde Valley is getting shafted” with the hiring of the new Associate Dean, Kelly Trainor. McCasland lamented that “the board has no authority over the president” when it comes to hiring top employees.

District Three Representative Al Filardo told the News that he was putting the issue on the agenda for discussion at the January, 2016 Governing Board meeting.

Wills not very responsive

The News asked President Penelope Wills why  the college would not “expect an administrator to relocate to the area he or she would represent.”  Wills’ responded that she would “be glad to chat” but failed to provide the News with a time when she would be available or when she would next be in Sedona or the Verde Valley. Representative Filardo did not respond to the question.

Categories : Politics, Underserving the Verde Valley

College says “no” to call to the public at December meeting

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015

Citizen input shut down

The College President and President of the Governing Board put together the agenda for each meeting of the District Governing Board.  For the December meeting they served up their version of a holiday treat by closing out from the five-member Governing Board any citizen input.  This input typically comes when there is an open call to the public and a citizen gets from two to three minutes to express his or her views on a topic relevant to the College. SPEECH SHUT DOWN

Under Arizona law, the College and Governing Board can turn off the call to the public, as was done here. This effectively prevents any citizen input going to the Governing Board. 

I suppose, given the track record of the Board and the total control exercised by the three-member West County voting block, that citizen input is not considered really relevant anyway.

This is just  another small-minded tactic to keep citizens from expressing their views in a democratic forum.

Categories : Politics

Sedona Redrock Newspaper November poll shows enormous dissatisfaction with College

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, November 26th, 2015

Over 90% dissatisfied; 83% say Verde Valley should “secede from Yavapai College”

An online poll conducted by the Sedona Redrock News as of November 25, 2015  shows the depth of dissatisfaction in Sedona and the Verde Valley with the Community College.  Almost 70% agreed that the Verde Valley should move to secede from Yavapai College because the money is not being spent wisely by the College.

Another 13% said the Valley should secede because classes do not meet residents needs.  Ten percent thought the Valley should not secede, however,  the ten year $119 million plan (with about 5% being invested in  the Valley) should be amended. Seven percent thought that the money was being spent wisely and the Verde Valley should not secede from the College.

The following is a chart, reproduced in the Redrock News, showing the distribution.  The poll may also be viewed by clicking here.

SEDONA RED ROCK NEWS NOVEMBER POLL

 

Categories : Politics, Polling data, Sedona Campus

Wills’ maintains curtain of secrecy from public about future plans for Prescott Valley Campus

By R. Oliphant
Tuesday, November 17th, 2015

Major players in future Allied Health Campus pose for picture without story

Dr. Penelope Wills works hard at keeping secret from the public her plans for the new $45 million dollar Community College campus in Prescott Valley.  Recall, for example, that at the last meeting with Prescott Town officials and others, she refused to allowed the Blog reporter access to the meeting so he could videotape the proceedings.

Information coming from sources in Flagstaff indicate that Northern Arizona University sees Wills’ as the $45 million bagman who will indirectly finance its expansion and presence in Prescott Valley.  (Wills’ has promised $4 million directly to NAU in the ten-year development plan. The $45 million is also found in the 10-year-plan for the Prescott Valley Allied Health Center). 

On November 8 the Prescott Daily Courier ran the photo and headline, which appear below.  However, there was no story attached to the photo–absolutely none.  Very odd, to say the least, but consistent with the Wills’ stealth approach to providing neither the public nor the Governing Board any details about her plans for the future Prescott Valley Community College and its relationship to NAU.

Here is the photo and headline that appeared on the front page of the Courier.   You can also view the photo without a story on the front page of the Courier by clicking here. 

PRESCOTT VALLEY CHAMBER MEETING 2

Categories : Allied Health Campus, Politics

Sedona Mayor’s letter to Governing Board defied

By R. Oliphant
Monday, November 16th, 2015

Board disregards view that “we are missing an opportunity” with the VVBCA

SEDONA MAYOR

Mayor Sandy Moriarty

In a letter received by the Yavapai College District Governing Board November 9, 2015 Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty emphasized the importance to her community of the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee (VVBAC). She urged the Board “to use the VVBAC in the most productive and effective way possible.”  She pointed out that the VVBAC is a “vital voice for residents in the Verde Valley.” It “plays a vital role representing the Verde and provides a real opportunity for positive progress.”   In response, the Board neutered the VVBAC by giving it a directive to consider only a handful of softball self-serving questions it had made up and brought to the meeting.

The Mayor urged the Board to dispel any notion that the “VVBAC may be “diluted through consolidation within another committee.”  In response the Board diluted the VVBAC by giving it a narrow, restrictive directive that is should consider only the softball-self serving questions handed to it by the Board.

The Mayor encouraged the Board to engage the VVBAC as “a resource to aid in strategic planning.”  This request was totally ignored by the Board.

The Mayor asked that the 16 recommendations for improving post-secondary education created by the VVBAC and sent to the Board be “fully considered by the Board and the administration.”  In response, President Penelope Wills produced a spreadsheet without details that she claimed addressed most of the recommendations.  The Chair of the VVBAC, given a minute to respond to the document he had not been given before the meeting, said: “What we’re looking for in terms of this [referring to the Wills’ spreadsheet] is something more concrete.” “We’re looking for hard answers.  That is what the communities are looking for.” The Board, urged on by the West County voting block, agreed to accept the spreadsheet as a draft. 

A copy of the Mayor’s letter is attached.VVBAYC Sedona mayor’s letter11.15

A copy of the spreadsheet is attached. DGB response to VVBAC Recommendation

Categories : Advisory Committees, Politics, Sedona Campus
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