Archive for Sedona Campus – Page 2

TWO SEDONA CENTER VOICE CLASSES ARE PROVIDED VIA WEBLIVE RATHER THAN IN PERSON

By R. Oliphant
Friday, August 19th, 2022

Nine persons enrolled in two classes that could accommodate 20 students; minor mystery of “zero enrollment” showing on registration site when changing from face-to-face to online classes solved

It was thought that there would be five adult face-to-face classes for college credit offered at the Sedona Center this semester.  However, it turns out that there will be only the three face-to-face classes, all in culinary, when the semester opens. (See earlier Blog posting for more information.)  The courses labeled Voice I and Voice II were changed from face-to-face to Weblive by the College. 

Weblive classes are online and open to anyone but have specific times scheduled for classes.  According to the College,  a total of nine students are enrolled in these two classes (Voice I and Voice II).

There was a minor amount of confusion when the College’s registration web page listing Sedona Center classes initially indicated that no one had signed up for either voice course, when in fact nine students had enrolled.  The College later explained that the classes were changed from face-to-face to Weblive. This accounted for the inaccurate zero registration number  temporarily showing up in its registration portal.  Here is the College’s response to the Blog query about these two classes and the initial showing of zero enrollment and change:

When a class is in the process of being cancelled it shows zero enrolled until those students have been contacted.  Then the classes disappear from the registration site (if you search now for the Sedona Campus, you won’t see the Voice classes because they were moved to WebLive). 

We always contact students if we are changing the modality of a class or cancelling the class.  While we are in the process of contacting them, we drop the class capacity to zero so that students can’t register for a class that is being changed or cancelled.  We let the students know about the change in modality and the new class number so that they can change their registration, or we let them know about other class options if the class is being cancelled.  Then the class is cancelled and disappears from the registration site. 

The minor mystery of zero enrollment  has been solved. While the number of students in each class remains limited to 10, anyone anywhere may take the classes online but at specific scheduled times.

Categories : Enrollment data, Sedona Campus

COLLEGE AND SEDONA OAK CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EXECUTE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT (IGA) TO MAKE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO IMPROVE FACILITIES AT SEDONA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

By R. Oliphant
Friday, June 3rd, 2022

Exact amount of funding associated with IGA remains unclear and details of what will be done likewise remain unclear | Third District Representative Paul Chevalier agrees with concept but suggestion that contract be rewritten with details and specific amount of funding rejected

Yavapai Community College and the Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District executed an Intergovernmental that was approved 4-1 by the District Governing Board at its May 17 meeting.  The agreement involves purchasing an unknown amount of equipment to be installed at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.

The contract reads that the “purpose of the IGA is to memorialize good faith efforts by Parties for Facility improvements and expanding accessibility to College in support of increasing events at Facility in support of the student experience and community outreach.”  Third District Representative Paul Chevalier said he “totally agreed” with the purpose but strongly suggested that the agreement be rewritten with greater clarity.

The contract contains no dollar amount to be invested in facilities at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.  The College Administration has not publicly announced any specific plans for classes at the facility or outlined to the Governing Board what classes it is contemplating offering there.

It was argued that rewriting the contract would delay the negotiations for months between the parties.  Mr. Chevalier suggested a solution saying that a rewritten contract could be voted on via a special Board zoom meeting immediately after it was completed this summer.  That idea was rejected.

Community College Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, Dr. Clint Ewell, explained that “there has not been a dollar amount, or a specific plan identified.” He said that “we know that there are issues with a lack of equipment . . . that causes us when we are using their facility to have to bring stuff in . .. We want to work with the District to make improvements that will benefit not only the College but also benefit  SPAC (Sedona Performing Arts Center) and their other users so that it is a more useful facility.”  He emphasized that  there were “ideas” at this point but nothing specific. He “guessed” that  the Community College’s investment could be up to $100,000.

Chair Deb McCasland said that the IGA was “typical” of other IGA’s the Community College has signed.

You may view the IGA contract, which is attached to the Agenda of the May 17 meeting by clicking here.

You may view the eleven-minute Governing Board discussion about this IGA by  clicking here.

Categories : Sedona Campus

SEDONA/VERDE VALLEY CITIZENS GIVE THANKS BUT URGE EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY

By R. Oliphant
Friday, April 1st, 2022

Citizens expressed concerns and appreciation at March 22 Board meeting while encouraging the Community  College to spend more time over here while enhancing facilities and training opportunities | There was an undercurrent of concern about closing the Center

East side citizens expressed a number of concerns about what the College is not doing while also expressing appreciation for what the College has begun to do  on the east side of the County during the March 22, 2022 Board meeting.  There appeared a concern among some that the future for the Sedona Center was not bright and that the Community College might consider closing it. What follows is a letter from a concerned Verde Valley resident, Ruth Wicks, a list of citizen concerns expressed during the March 22 Governing Board meeting in Sedona, and a collection of video clips from the March 22 meeting of citizens expressing their views on facilities, courses, the past treatment and future of the Sedona Center.

 

Citizens speak out: A list of concerns expressed to the March 22 Governing Board by Sedona/Verde Valley citizens appear below:

    1. Budget: Better balance resources available with the needs in Sedona/Verde Valley.
    2. Budget: Online budget is extremely hard to read and understand.  Simplify and rewrite it.
    3. Budget: Accounting data needs to show precisely how the funds collected from various sources of revenue obtained via primary and secondary taxes, construction taxes, gifts, grants, etc. are redistributed in Verde Valley by College. (Strong sentiment for this.)
    4. Budget: Greater budget transparency (Strong sentiment for this)
    5. Budget: More equity in funding (strong sentiment for this)
    6. Budget: Verde Valley Governing Board Advisory Committee made up of all groups and interests in Sedona/Verde Valley area recommended years ago full disclosure of finances and expenditures but that has not occurred.
    7. Classes: See also culinary and CTEC below.
    8. Classes: Classes once offered at Sedona Center were “wonderful” and have not been replaced.
    9. Classes: More variety and far greater number of classes should be offered on the east side.
    10. Classes: Offer classes and certificate in acupuncture, etc.
    11. Classes: Original plan for the culinary institute with four kitchens should be followed through on by College. (Was citizen committee not listened to?
    12. Classes: Performing Arts: There is a particular need for performing arts facilities and course on the east side of the County.
    13. Closing concern: There was a concern expressed over possibly closing the Sedona Center.
    14. Courses: There are very few course offerings on the east side of the County when compared with the Prescott area offerings.
    15. CTEC: College should teach electric car mechanics at new Skills Center.
    16. CTEC: Skills Center on Verde Campus should be expanded.
    17. Culinary: College should follow through on recommendations made for the culinary program about four years ago.
    18. Culinary: Enhance (expand) the culinary program so that “chefs” could be taught here. Not just short-order cooks.
    19. Government: There is a concern about  how former Sedona/Verde Valley Dean Tina Redd was treated including her work assignments.
    20. Government: There is a need for a committee to work specifically in the Sedona/Verde Valley on what classes, programs, and new facilities are most needed.
    21. Government: Governing Board voting appears to continue vote 4-1 in favor of west side of County.
    22. Government: Irreconcilable differences between east and west County can be solved only by east side becoming independent autonomous campus.
    23. Housing: Use land on Verde Campus for building housing for students/faculty.
    24. Important to keep Community educationally “vital” and “alive.”.
    25. Meetings: More meetings by Governing Board on this side of Mingus Mountain.
    26. Meetings: More meetings in Sedona
    27. Programming: Hospitality and culinary are vital and important needs in this community. Must be protected and enhanced.
Categories : Sedona Campus

GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER’S MERE MENTION ABOUT SHUTTERING CAMPUSES AND SPACE ALLOCATION INSTANTLY TRIGGERS MEMORIES OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S LAST DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT CONSIDERED SHUTTERING AND SELLING SEDONA CENTER AND CHINO VALLEY CENTER

By R. Oliphant
Friday, March 25th, 2022

Although not yet a formal agenda item and there was no immediate suggestion about closing campuses, merely raising the shutter issue in the context of underutilization of space and programs triggered a lightening reaction from Third District Representative Paul Chevalier

Third District Representative Paul Chevalier

While discussing Community College underutilization of programs and the efficient use of space at the March 22 Governing Board meeting, Fifth District west-side representative Mitch Padilla reminded the Board that “we can consolidate. We can shutter a campus and reallocate dollars that would go to something that is simply not being utilized.” 

He said he wasn’t calling for shuttering of campuses or anything like that although he has “personal opinions” on that. He said, however, that if the College is “spinning its wheels on maintenance and under-utilization on a program” that  is not being used but is the primary function of a particular campus, “I don’t have problem shuttering it and using funds elsewhere.”  (See video clip below.)

So, although not saying it directly, was he thinking about the Culinary Institute  and the Sedona Center? 

Fifth District Representative Mitch Padilla

The comments immediately triggered a reaction from Third District Representative Paul Chevalier and the last time the Board considered shuttering the Sedona Center and the Chino Valley Center. He immediately responded and was adamant in his defense of keeping the Sedona Center and the Clarkdale Campus on the east side of Mingus Mountain from being shuttered.  (See video tape clip). He commented that even the suggestion of closing campuses on the east side of Mingus Mountain would “cause a revolution over here.”

District one representative Ray Sigafoos, who voted in December 2013 for the Board to consider closing the Sedona Center and the Chino Valley Center, said he didn’t hear a “single word” about closing a campus or closing Clarkdale.  Sigafoos speculated that as an example maybe the Board might look at the Chino Valley Center or Learning Centers at some time in the future. (See video clip below.)

Community College Vice President Clint Ewell closed out the conversation by saying the College has too much space and it needs to look at how it can better utilize that space.  (See video clip below.)

The Board attorney cut off further discussion noting the issue was not on the agenda.

A video clip of a portion of the conversation among Board members on this issue appears below. You will be able to view a video of the entire Board meeting several weeks in the future when the video is included with the Governing Board minutes of the meeting.

Categories : Sedona Campus, Ten year plan

FIRST IT WAS THE SUDDEN DEPARTURE OF SEDONA/VERDE VALLEY’S OUTSTANDING DEAN REDD; NOW AWARD WINNING CHEF AND DIRECTOR OF SEDONA CULINARY ARTS AND HOSPITALITY PROGRAM IS OUT AFTER MAY 14

By R. Oliphant
Friday, March 25th, 2022

Blog learns that Chef Robert Barr’s contract with Community College will not be renewed after May 14; reasons for Community College’s non-renewal decision unclear

Sedona Center Culinary and Hospitality Program Director Robert K. Barr

The Blog has learned from reliable sources that the Culinary and Hospitality Program Director at the Sedona Culinary Institute, Robert K. Barr, has been notified by Yavapai Community College that his contract with the College will end May 14.  According to those sources, the bad news for Sedona and the Verde Valley was delivered through then Sedona/Verde Dean Dr. Tina Redd sometime before she suddenly resigned. 

Like Dr. Redd, Mr. Barr joined Yavapai Community College in 2018 with sterling credentials and experience.  He had  worked as instructor, restaurant owner and resort administrator  and had  served as personal chef to Ray Charles, Reba McEntire and former Vice President Dan Quayle.

He had  30 years’ of experience in every facet of food preparation, service and management. He is the recipient of the Presidential Medallion, as well as a High Gold Medal and multiple silver medals from the American Culinary Federation. In  1997 he was named as one of the  Best Chefs in America by the Restaurant Hospitality Rating Bureau. He came  to Yavapai Community College from the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Scottsdale, where he has served as Chef Instructor from  2015-2018.

The Blog believes that Mr. Barr was seeking to expand programs to teach higher level cooking skills at the Sedona facility but his efforts may not have been well received.  He may also have agreed with others in the  Sedona/Verde Valley  region that to succeed as a destination facility, the Institute had to have four kitchens, more space, and adequate student housing.  These views have not found favor with the previous and present Prescott based administrations.

The implications of the Community College decision to end its relationship with Mr. Barr are unclear.  Those who are most distrustful of the Prescott Community College executives and their total control over the Sedona Culinary Institute fear that it may signal a  first step in a slow but gradual effort to once again shutter the facility.

Everyone in Sedona and the Verde Valley will be carefully watching developments at the Institute over the next few months.

Categories : Culinary Arts, Sedona Campus

CHEVALIER ADDRESSES VERDE CAMPUS OLLI GATHERING ABOUT YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

By R. Oliphant
Friday, March 4th, 2022

Argues that over the years the east side of County has been overlooked by Community College administrators and Board while the west side has prospered citing Camp Verde as one of those overlooked areas

Third District Yavapai Community College Representative Paul Chevalier spoke to a group of interested citizens about Yavapai Community College’s past, present, and future at an OLLI gathering on the Verde Campus in Clarkdale March 2.  Chevalier reviewed the background, history, and future of the Community College. He also shared his experience working on behalf of improving the Community College in Sedona and the Verde Valley  as Chair of the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee and as a member of the Community College District Governing Board. 

Representative Paul Chevalier

Chevalier was particularly focused on what he sees as the inequitable development that has occurred between the east and west sides of the County. The inequity has occurred, according to Mr. Chevalier, despite the fact that Sedona and the Verde Valley have been paying “mega millions of dollars” to support the Community College over many years.

He used the town of Camp Verde as one example of an area the Community College has overlooked.  He said Camp Verde is the fastest growing east side community with a growing population estimated at over 13,000. The Community College collects Camp Verde citizens’ property taxes, he said, “but spends practically nothing there. Its elected Town Council, representing their residents, understandably is not happy about that.”

He urged the College to correct the inequities “between the two sides of the County as soon as possible.” 

Chevalier estimated that for every 10 people that live in the County on the west side of Mingus Mountain approximately four live on the east side. If the College spent $10 for every west side citizen and $4 for every east side citizen, said Chevalier, that would be equitable.  However, he continued, that “is not the case.”

Chevalier also asserted that there is “major resistance” for equitable spending of Community College revenue on both sides of Mingus Mountain. The west side competes very effectively for dollars and “wants their projects to be the top priority.” He pointed out that more subtle influences or biases may be at work favoring the west side of the County simply because the College administration is based in Prescott, the College president and vice presidents all live there, and four of the five present Governing Board members live there.

He evinced concern about the huge gap between the east and west sides of the County in providing performing arts programs.  He said he believed the College should start construction on enhancing its fledgling 10,000 square foot Career and Technical Education facility by adding from 20,000 to 30,000 square feet this year.

He urged his audience to attend and encourage others to attend a public meeting to be held about the future of the Community College at the Yavapai Community College Sedona Center March 22 at 4 p.m. “Frankly,” he said, “I need your help. I cannot do this alone.”

Mr. Chevalier has furnished the Blog with a copy of the speech that he gave to the OLLI group.  You may read it in its entirety by clicking on the link below.

PAUL CHEVALIER SPEECH MARCH 2 TO OLLI IN VERDE VALLEY

Categories : Camp Verde, Politics, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus

SEDONA RED ROCK NEWS REMINDS US THAT 10 YEARS AGO SEDONA CENTER FILM SCHOOL HAD FIVE FILMS CREATED BY STUDENTS AT SEDONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, February 24th, 2022

Yavapai Community College’s decision to completely abandon the thriving film school program  in 2013 still has  some Verde Valley residents scratching their heads

The Sedona Red Rock News on February 16, 2022, reminded us that it was just ten years ago, February 17, 2012,  when Yavapai Community College  students were turning out great student films at the Community College’s Sedona Center. That year,  the Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF) featured five films created by students attending the Sedona Center’s film school. Those films and nine others all had Arizona ties as either films shot in Arizona or films made by Arizona residents. “There are a lot of great films made right here in Sedona and around Arizona in this year’s festival. We’re so proud to have so many local filmmakers who won a spot in the festival. They went through the screening process, just like all of the other films,” said Sagan Lewis, program director for SIFF.

Here is a part of the Redrock News report of February, 2022  (in Blue), slightly edited,   that recalled the accomplishments of some Yavapai Community College students studying film making at the Sedona Center ten years ago:

A five-member team screens every film submitted for consideration. This year they received more than 850 films, which they pared down to 145.

One of the . . .  films by [Yavapai student] Susanne Barr is “Christel Clear” about a trauma nurse who discovers she has a special gift that changes people’s lives.

Bianca Luedeker [Yavapai Student] created a film about her dream to follow in the footsteps of her idol in “I Want to Be Tom Savini.” “It’s mostly about makeup special effects and my personal experience while on vacation without my parents for the first time,” Luedeker said.

“Symmetry” is a suspense between a homicide detective and a vigilante that turns deadly. Filmmaker [Yavapai student] Jeremy Naranjo said he plans to make a feature-length version of the 18-minute short fictional film. “I studied political science to be a lawyer but after serving an internship in Washington, D.C., I decided I didn’t want to be a lawyer,” Naranjo said. “I find filmmaking challenges you on every level, and that’s something I’m drawn to.”

Katja Torneman [Yavapai student] created a documentary around her passions: conservation and the environment. With “Anna, Emma and the Condors,” Torneman worked with a family dedicated to saving the large birds. “We worked together for a year to make this film. I want to spread the message we can make a change; we just have to do it,” Torneman said. 

The final . . .  student-made film [by Yavapai student Karin Kwaitkowski] is “The Stopwatch Gang” about the true story of three men from Canada who used a stopwatch when robbing banks during the 1970s and early 1980s.

The reader  might recall that the Sedona Film School, was the successor to the internationally acclaimed Zaki Gordon Film School, which had partnered with Yavapai Community College beginning in 2000. The Institute severed its relationship in 2011 with the College after a dust-up of some sort over control between then College president Penelope Wills and Dan Gordon. The Zaki Gordon Institute moved to Liberty University where today it is recognized as providing one of the better college film training programs in the nation.

Two years following the breakdown of the Community College’s relationship with Dan Gordon, in October 2013, Sedona and Verde Valley residents were taken totally by surprise and stunned by the College’s Administration’s sudden decision  to completely abandon the film making program in Sedona.  The abandonment was a part of the ten-year $103 million  College development plan, which anticipated spending over 95% of development funds on west county community college improvement. The original plan contemplated  entirely  closing the Sedona facility  and putting it up for sale. Once the Sedona Center was shuttered and sold,  Wills  promised to lease other facilities in the area for OLLI and any other programs.

The plans to shutter the Sedona Center completely were thwarted by local Sedona politicians and residents throughout the Verde Valley.  However, the College refused to return the film school to Sedona. 

Although the Community College has some involvement this year with the Sedona International Film Festival, it is pretty clear that emphasis in  the College’s film training is now primarily located on the Prescott Campus as evidenced by the Yavapai College Film and Media Arts Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YCFilmandMediaArts/.  There is no film school training at the Sedona Center.

Categories : Film School, Sedona Campus

DR. RHINE MUM ON FUTURE OF VERDE VALLEY DEVELOPMENT PENDING COMPLETION OF PLANS NOW BEING WORKED OUT; CHEVALIER OUTLINES UNMET NEEDS ON EAST SIDE INCLUDING CTE AND PERFORMING ARTS

By R. Oliphant
Friday, February 4th, 2022

President says she won’t make commitment on future development she can’t keep | Chevalier asks College to share data with the Board regarding east side development it claims to have collected

Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine was requested by Third District Governing Board Representative Paul Chevalier during the January 28 District Governing Board Workshop in Prescott Valley to share her views about the future development of the Community College in the Verde Valley.  In response, she refused to give any information saying that at this time she was “unwilling to commit to a plan” that she was unable to “fulfill.”  

Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine

Third District Governing Board Representative Paul Chevalier

Dr. Rhine also said in response to the request that the Community College was “working diligently on a plan” for the entire County and collecting data to ensure that the plan is “based on needs” supported “by evidence –data.”  She said the while there are “exciting plans for the whole county” it was “premature to share those plans” until there was certainty and the Board had approved them and a budget to support them.

Third District Representative Paul Chevalier asked about a Sedona meeting regarding development of the Performing Arts on the east side of the County. Dr. Rhine said she did not have any information about the meeting because it was in one of her Vice President’s areas.

Dr. Rhine was also asked by Chevalier if she would supply the data about the east side of the County the Community College had collected to use for future development decisions. She gave no direct response to that question. (Please see Video clip below.)

Representative Chevalier outlined his view of a few of the current unmet needs on the east side of the County that he believed were identical to those of citizens on the west side.  Those needs included more Career and Technical Education training and facilities and a need for many more Performing Arts educational programs. 

Chevalier made a strong argument for adding Performing Arts educational programming to the Community College curriculum on the east side.  He noted there were over 500 students enrolled in Performing Arts programs on the Prescott Campus this fall while only one or two classes and possibly a dozen students made up the Performing Arts curriculum and student population taking classes on the east side. He said we “probably have as many performing artists on the east side as on the west side” of the County.  . . . In Sedona alone, we have four Grammy winners.  . . . Mingus High School has a very vibrant Performing Arts program and Red Rock High School has a program as well.” 

According to Chevalier, when students in the Verde Valley graduate, “there’s no institution on the east side that you can go to and get Performing Arts.  That is something that is just as important on the east side as on the west side.”  However, the need on the east side, said Chevalier, “is not being catered to at all” by the Community College.

For additional context and discussion and to check the accuracy of this post, please see the video clip below of the Governing Board discussion with Dr. Rhine at the January 28 Governing Board meeting.  A video record of the entire Governing Board meeting is anticipated to be posted by the Community College following the next meeting of the Governing Board once the minutes of the Workshop are approved.  Please monitor the Governing Board website for the posting if you are interested in reviewing the entire meeting.

 

Categories : MASTER PLAN, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus

COMMUNITY COLLEGE SAYS TEN OF ELEVEN PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS TAUGHT ONLY ON WEST SIDE OF COUNTY

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, November 18th, 2021

Director of Programming and Development, Associate Dean of Performing Arts, Dr. Craig Ralston also informs Third District Representative Paul Chevalier that a committee has been formed to look into whether the PAC at Red Rock High School can be used by the Community College

Third District Representative Paul Chevalier

Dr. Craig Ralston, the Director of Programming and Development, Associate Dean of Performing Arts at Yavapai Community College, informed Mr. Paul Chevalier, Third District Community College representative, at the November 9 Governing Board meeting, that 10 of the 11 Performing Arts programs were offered only on the Prescott Campus.  He also reported that a committee has been formed in  Sedona consisting of the [Sedona] Chamber, members of the Film Festival, and representatives of Chamber Music of Sedona who are “in negotiations to talk about the Performing Arts Center.” 

Regarding the Committee, Dr. Ralston explained  that “We’re sitting down at the table to say that it is an amazing facility, how can we use it and how can the school go flex with us – they’ve been pretty resistant.” 

Representative Chevalier lauded Dr. Ralston for his outstanding work on developing the performing arts programs saying “you have  done this great job on the west side and I’m hoping the College will focus strongly on bringing all these things to the east side.  Word will get out fast as we are all interested in the arts over there and that will be positive not only for students, but it will be a real positive for the college.” 

Chevalier also noted that  Mingus Union High School, under the leadership of James Ball, has a great performing arts  program.  However, according to him, when students  graduate from Mingus  high school, “unless they have a lot of money, or want to leave, they have no local place to continue pursuing music, performing arts and drama.”

Below is a video clip of the discussion between Mr. Chevalier and Dr. Ralston related to where the programs are taught and the existence of the new committee.  A full video of the meeting may be posted at some point on the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board website.

 

Categories : Performing Arts Center, Sedona Campus

ARTIST JORDAN ROSS RECEPTION NOV. 3, 2:30 – 4:30 SEDONA CENTER

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, October 31st, 2021

Categories : Sedona Campus
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