More than two dozen citizens speak out on concerns during open call to the public
The Tuesday, September 1 meeting of the Yavapai College District Governing Board saw one of the largest turnouts ever for such a meeting. Those in attendance came from throughout the Verde Valley. There were educators, high school and middle school superintendents, representatives of the Verde Valley County supervisors, mayors, city council members, and others. The entire Tribal Council of the Yavapai Apache Nation was present.
They had come to the Board meeting to express their concern with the inequity in the allocation of tax resources and Community College development in rural Yavapai County and in particular the Verde Valley. They had also come to express their support for the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee (VVBAC) and concern it would be significantly weakened or eliminated.
Many were aware of the immediate reaction of President Wills and all three members of the Governing Board when at the August Board meeting Verde representative Al Filardo moved that the VVBAC continue for two (2) years with the members monitor the progress of their proposed recommendations. The motion was seconded by Verde representative Deb McCasland.
President Wills appears aghast on the video of the meeting when the suggestion was made and Chair McCarver immediately jumped to her aid. The motion lost when it became clear there was solid opposition from the West County representatives.
Other attendees at the September Board meeting had read excerpts from the August Board minutes, which strongly suggested that the Committee was about to be killed off or at least marginalized. As the video of the meeting discussion about the Committee (posted by the Blog) and the approved minutes show, the three members of the Governing Board were less than enthusiastic about continuing the Committee.
For example, Ray sigafoos stated that “this committee has met specific Verde Valley ownership linkage objectives,” clearly implying it was no longer of much use. Member Steve Irwin stated that he believed the Verde Valley strategic plan is close to being completed,” implying when it was complete the role of the VVBAC was over. Mr. Irwin suggested that “combining the committees (VVBAC with the Perey Committee) may be more effective rather than duplication of work of developing the Verde Valley Strategic Plan and monitoring progress.” The consequences of putting the VVBAC under an advisory committee now run by Dean Perey would be devastating. It would essentially destroy the VVBAC’s effectiveness and return all meetings about the Valley to total college secrecy. Moreover, and as a practical matter, the activities of Perey’s committee are far different than those of the VVBAC.
Board Chair McCarver, who is no friend of the Valley, agreed with the idea of effectively destroying the VVBAC by incorporating members from the VVBAC into the Executive Dean’s Verde Valley Advisory committee. McCarver suggested that during the August 31st Retreat the Board determine the VVBAC charge, implying it might be ended as it exists in its present form.
At the September meeting McCarver tried to cover up the real intentions and actions of the West County representatives a by stating “at the last board meeting, the board did unanimously vote to continue the Verde Valley Advisory Committee.”
VVBAC Chair Paul Chevalier replied during an interview found in the Verde Independent that “The board only voted to continue us through the strategic plan process. You have to read between the lines.” Mr. Chevalier was more than correct!
Recall that the Governing Board has voted 3-2, with the West members voting together on each vote on at least three occasions, to reject important recommendations of the VVBAC (it has been announced the VVBAC may no longer make recommendations): (1) Don’t raise tuition; (2) don’t raise property taxes; and (3) don’t continue the capital spending spree until there is a plan in place.
Sources: Minutes of August meeting, which may be read by clicking here. Additional background may be found in the Verde Independent by clicking here.