ONLY REPRESENTATIVE MC CASLAND RAISES QUESTIONS
President Penelope Wills was able to easily snooker the District Governing Board at its June 14, 2016 meeting when it came to getting approval for dual enrollment contracts that set fees on high school students and eliminated teacher stipend support. The contracts sailed through the Board with only Representative Deb McCasland raising questions about them. (It was a 5-0 vote as the Verde Valley representatives capitulated.) The fees all go to administration of the program. During the six month fight over the fee, the College never offered a study or provided an in-depth look at the need for such a program for the County. It was all about collecting as much money as it could from the high schools.
How good is your memory on this educational fiasco administered by Wills?
Recall that all of the high school superintendents in the Verde Valley opposed the College setting fees on high school students for the dual enrollment program. Wills ignored their pleas.
Recall that all of the seven-member Blue Ribbon Verde Valley Governing Board Advisory Board opposed setting fees on high school students for the dual enrollment program. Wills ignored their pleas.
Recall that Deb McCasland opposed setting fees on high school students in the dual enrollment program at the January, 2016 meeting. Wills ignored her.
Recall that Al Filardo seemed on the fence in December, 2015 and January 2016 but must have decided to support Wills.
Recall that Wills claimed $78,000 was annually needed for dual enrollment when she demanded a property tax rate increase in 2015. She got her way in a 3-2 vote to increase taxes with West County representatives voting as a block to approve it.
Recall that Wills claimed $53,634 for a dual enrollment liaison was annually needed for dual enrollment for a when she demanded a property tax rate increase in 2015 (it was granted in a 3-2 vote with West County representatives voting as a block).
Recall that the State of Arizona provides the Community College with money for dual enrollment; in 2016 the College estimated the total to be $30,153. In May 2013 (See Governing Board Agenda for that date with PowerPoint) the College stated it received $63,777 from the State for Dual Enrollment support. Who knows why the decline, if there was one. Who can you trust?
Recall that Superintendent Paul Tighe told the Governing Board on January 12, 2016 that a fee would inhibit access by high school students to the dual enrollment program.
Recall that the College used to provide a stipend to high school teachers in dual enrollment programs, which is said was $82,000 in 2015. It has eliminated that stipend under its new approach. Or at least, the stipend does not appear in the contract approved at the June 14 meeting.
Recall that tax rate analysis of Community Colleges in Arizona says Yavapai College spends double the state average per student in primary property taxes. Gosh, couldn’t some of that money be used for dual enrollment? Or should it go toward replacing existing good roads and sidewalks with even better ones?
Recall that Wills has said on the record the following:
• Some High schools are irresponsibly “going wild” when asking for dual enrollment classes.
• Some students don’t have “skin-in-the-game,” which probably means she believes they don’t take the courses seriously unless they have to pay something for them.
• Students are “skipping” Yavapai Community College after graduation (anyone wonder why?)
• Administrative costs have suddenly mushroomed, with her estimate being that it now costs $300,000 in administration to run the program.
• Offers by High Schools to take over administration costs have been rejected by the College because not all High Schools have the capability of providing the data.
• The College doesn’t get tuition from the students (even though it doesn’t provide faculty, rooms, utilities, transportation, etc.)
• The best success for dual enrollment programs is to hold them on a college campus.
President Wills is simply lining the pockets of the Community College so she can build more projects on the West side of the Campus such as a $3 million dollar soccer field. So much for education.