Archive for Camp Verde

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S POOR RELATIONSHIP WITH CAMP VERDE HIGHLIGHTED IN DEAN REDD’S RESIGNATION LETTER

By R. Oliphant
Friday, July 1st, 2022

Says that  “interactions with Camp Verde are regularly looked upon with suspicion”

It is well known among most close observers of Yavapai Community College that its relationship with the town of Camp Verde has been less than ideal.  Dr. Tina Redd reflected on some of the  problems she faced that involved Camp Verde during her short term as Dean of the Sedona Center/Verde Campus.  In her resignation letter to President Dr. Lisa Rhine She wrote:

“I was falsely accused of inviting Camp Verde Mayor, Dee Jenkins, to speak at the Skilled Trades Center opening in March 2021.  . . ..

“The strained relations with Camp Verde, partly due to an incident involving Rodney Jenkins that happened before I was hired, continue to cloud and undermine interactions with city officials, yet I am charged with supporting every municipality in the Verde Valley.  Interactions with Camp Verde are regularly looked upon with suspicion.” 

The strained relationship referred to by Dr. Redd has a long history.  Recall that around 2010 the Community College closed down the leased facilities it operated in Camp Verde.  The College  claimed at the time that student numbers  there was not sufficient to continue, especially when the College was allegedly facing a financial crisis of sorts.  Although the College recovered from its alleged financial crisis, little attention has been paid to Camp Verde since 2010.

The more recent relationship between the College and Camp Verde is checkered.  Back in 2020-21 the town was hopeful that the College would locate its Career and Technical education facility in a structure located on highway 260 rather than build on the Verde Campus. They argued that the site was a more centralized location that would allow easy access for Mingus Union, Sedona and Camp Verde students to train in Career and Technical education courses.    Although the College made overtures to lease space in a structure on 260, it was unsuccessful. It eventually completely rejected the 260 location idea and chose to build ilt a small CTE facility on the Verde Campus.

More recently, Third District Represent Representative Paul Chevalier was chastised by some Governing Board members at the January 29, 2022 District Governing Board Workshop for suggesting that the “College is not really dong anything for Camp Verde.”

At a March 2022 closed door meeting with local politicians and the College, Camp Verde offered free teaching space to the Community College at a structure it had purchased or was considering purchasing on highway 260.  Nothing more is known about the offer.

The Community College is well aware of the poor relationship between it and Camp Verde and has taken some steps, it appears, to improve it.  For example, at the May 2022 meeting of the Yavapai College District Governing Board, the College administration announced it was seeking a $600,000 grant from the federal governing to fund the purchase of trucks with some of them going to Camp Verde, apparently for a truck driving school.  No decision on this request will be made in Washington apparently until spring, 2023.  Moreover, the College has not made public plans for a truck driving school in Camp Verde.

Categories : Camp Verde, Career and Technical Education

FOURTH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE CHIS KUKNYO SAYS CAMP VERDE HAS OFFERED COMMUNITY COLLEGE A BUILDING FOR TEACHING

By R. Oliphant
Friday, May 6th, 2022

Quotes Camp Verde Council member as saying to Board at secret March meeting, “If you want to come teach here, you can use this building”

Fourth District Representative Chris Kuknyo

Details are sketchy but Fourth District Governing Board Representative Chris Kuknyo reminded the Community College District Governing Board at its April meeting of an offer by Camp Verde to provide a building.  According to Mr. Kuknyo, the member of the Camp Verde Council said:  “If you want to come teach here, you can use this building.”

Mr. Kuknyo said he was encouraged by the offer “because maybe we could expand services there without having to build something or maintain something.”  He continued that it was a “nice out of the box thinking, which I was glad to see them come up with.”  He also commented that in the future, “maybe that could be land.”

Second District Representative Deb McCasland, whose district encompasses Camp Verde, made no comment. Nor did any other members of the Board or the College administrators.

The exact details of the offer made at the secret March meeting are not known.  No record was made of that meeting as it was an invitation only event  where selected local Verde Valley representatives were invited.  Members of the Sedona Council could not attend because the secret meeting was held at the same time as the Sedona Council meets for its regular Tuesday monthly session.

You may view Mr. Kuknyo’s comments to the Board on this topic at the April meeting by clicking here. 

Categories : Camp Verde

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

CHEVALIER CHASTISED AT JANUARY 29 WORKSHOP FOR SAYING AT DECEMBER PUBLIC FORUM THAT THE “COLLEGE IS REALLY NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR CAMP VERDE”

By R. Oliphant
Friday, February 11th, 2022

Chevalier defends his remark as based on conversations with Camp Verde officials and the general history of Camp Verde and the Community College | Chair says remark was inappropriate as a Governing Board member attending a  Public Forum

Third District Community College  Representative Paul Chevalier was chastised during the Board’s January Workshop by the Chair of the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board, Deb McCasland,  for a remark he made during the first Community College public forum that focused on the College’s future  development plan. That  forum was held on the Clarkdale Campus in December. The new plan when finally announced  will guide capital development in the District  for the next  eight to 10 years. In December Mr. Chevalier remarked  during the public discussion portion of the Forum that the College was “not doing anything for Camp Verde”  This upset Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland.

McCasland challenged Mr. Chevalier’s remark as not having  a basis in fact. She said in making the remark he was not supportive of the College and was “uneducated,” and “uniformed.”  Chevalier strongly disagreed. He stated that he based the remark on discussions he had with various Camp Verde Officials and the College’s history with Camp Verde. He also noted that at present there is  “no community college facility in Camp Verde,” which is true.

McCasland said that the College was doing things in Camp Verde and pointed to a recent meeting she and a member of the College staff  held in Camp Verde. She also  said that the College was involved with small business development in Camp Verde.

President Dr. Lisa Rhine noted during this discussion that the Community College had tried three years ago to locate its first Career and Technical Education Center on Highway 260, much nearer to Camp Verde than where it was finally constructed. A Board member attributed the College’s failure to locate that project on Highway 260 to a Camp Verde  citizen, not the College.

President Rhine also noted that there are a number of community members that attend the College. It’s not that Camp Verde  is availing itself of the College, it’s that they want a building, she explained to the Governing Board.

Chevalier pointed out that Camp Verde is the fastest growing community in the Verde Valley with a population of 13,000 and will be adding to its population “ a lot more people.” According to him,  Camp Verde citizens are asking, “We’re paying all these taxes [to support the Community College],  what are we getting?”

The conversation was wide-ranging. Chevalier urged Dr. Rhine to meet with the mayor of Camp Verde to bring about a solution to problems that may exist between the citizens of Camp Verde and the Community College.

There is much more to the conversation about Camp Verde and its future with the Community College. Please see the video clip below, which is about 16 minutes long, for the complete context of the discussion  about Camp Verde. The video of the entire January 28 Workshop  should be available to the public once the Governing Board approves the Workshop minutes and they are posted on the Governing Board website.

 

Categories : Camp Verde

ROB WITT TELLS CAMP VERDE COUNCIL THAT WILLS CLAIMS WEST SIDE OF COUNTY WILL NOT SUPPORT EAST SIDE CTE PROJECT VIA A BOND

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, June 16th, 2018

 

Adds that he sent financial analysis to Yavapai College asking for feedback but received none

Accountant and realtor Mr. Rob Witt addressed the Camp Verde Town Council during its work session June 13.  He explained that he and Carol German has talked with President Wills about the need for a Career and Technical Education Center on the East side of the County.  During the conversation, Wills indicated that in her opinion there was no way the west side of the County would support the east side in a bonding effort for a centralized center.

Mr. Witt also sent his financial analysis of the amount of revenue and expenses associated with the College operating the Verde Campus and the Sedona Center to the College Administration. He asked for a comment on his estimate.  According to Witt, the Verde Valley (including Sedona), as equity owners of the College, should receive about $24 million annually for development, maintenance, and operations on the east side of the County. Mr. Witt has yet to receive a response from the Community College.

Mr. Witt’s speech to the Camp Verde Town Council can be found below.  (Sorry, the audio and picture is the best the Blog can get from the Camp Verde web site.)   You can see and listen to the entire Town Council meeting including  discussion of the direction Camp Verde should take in working with Yavapai Community College by clicking here. (Note. It follows the rodeo discussion.)

Categories : Camp Verde, Career and Technical Education

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC) TO INCREASE COUNSELING SERVICES

By R. Oliphant
Friday, January 5th, 2018

Camp Verde one of several communities to benefit (College provides matching funds received from federal government for program)

Due to additional grant funding awarded to the Regional Economic Development Center, the  services provided by the Small Business Development Center in FY17-2018 will be enhanced by increasing counseling hours in Black Canyon City, Chino Valley, Camp Verde, and Yarnell (Weaver Mountains communities). The SBDC provides counseling out of the Prescott Campus, Clarkdale Campus, Sedona Campus, Yavapai Apache Nation Economic Development Administration Office, Camp Verde Economic Development offices, Northern Arizona University in Prescott Valley, and Prescott Valley Library.

The Small Business Development Center staff is comprised of the Director, Jeri Denniston, and two business analysts, a part time analyst serving the Verde Valley (position currently vacant), and Richard Hernandez, a fulltime analyst serving the Quad City Area.

 The SBDC is a grant funded program through the U.S. Small Business Administration for which Yavapai College provides matching cash funds. It is also one of the oldest SBDC programs operating in the state of Arizona for the past 27 years.

The SBDC provides one-on-one confidential counseling, a series of subsidized workshops, and a business resource library district-wide.

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Categories : Camp Verde
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BOARD APPROVES INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH CAMP VERDE

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, May 20th, 2017

College to establish learning center at Camp Verde Community Library — an idea of the now defunct Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee 

The District Governing Board unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement between Yavapai Community College and the town of Camp Verde at its May 9, 2017 meeting. Under the agreement the College will provide computer equipment and other materials that are intended to expand access to the Community College. The equipment will be located at the Camp Verde Community library.

 The Community College has agreed to provide technical and administrative support to keep the computer software up-to-date and perform any necessary preventive maintenance. The College has also agreed to provide support and services to current Community College students and future students either in­ person at the Camp Verde library location or via remote technology.

The idea of creating learning centers similar to the one at Camp Verde throughout the County was the brainchild of the now defunct Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee. During its deliberations and up to the time  it was shut down by the West County Governing Board majority, the Advisory Committee had strongly suggested that such centers be created.

 

Categories : Advisory Committees, Camp Verde

CATHERINE RUSSELL CONCERT IN CAMP VERDE FRIDAY NIGHT

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, April 19th, 2017

Concert begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Phillip England Center for the Performing Arts this Friday, which is located at 210 Camp Lincoln Rd.
Camp Verde, Arizona 86322

The School District describes the Center as “a professional, well-appointed theater with comfortable, swing up cushioned burgundy seating for 424 patrons. Audience area is handicap accessible, handsomely carpeted with stage ramps and wide, numbered, well-lit aisles. Professional audio, lighting, rigging, staging, large dressing rooms, spacious Lobby with ticket booth and large restrooms.”

Categories : Camp Verde, Event

FIRST YC CULTURAL EVENT IN CAMPE VERDE HICCUPS

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, October 26th, 2016

College struggles to find an audience for its cultural events in Verde Valley

The Wills’ administration, under enormous pressure from the Verde Valley, has been experimenting with bringing a handful of cultural events to the area. It has a huge cultural program on the West side of the County.
Music notesOn Saturday, September 22, 2016 it put on a program that featured a three-person jazz concert at the Camp Verde Philp England Center. This was the first such program in Camp Verde sponsored by the College.
Kudos go to Craig Ralston, Director of the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, for his patience and effort in trying to find effective ways in which to bring these events to the community. Despite problems.

This program ran into problems. As with several other events, the College advertised ticket price for the concert was $32. The problem was that only 24 tickets had been sold shortly before the Saturday concert.

Dean Ralston said that the small number of tickets were sold despite “extensive marketing and promotion (postcards, flyers, posters, ads in paper, Kudos, radio, social media).” Given the sparse sales, Ralston felt the best approach was to make the concert “free.” He traveled personally to Camp Verde, Sedona and Cottonwood/Clarkdale handing out complimentary tickets to key business and organizations.

In the end and thanks to Raltson’s personal commitment, over 130 residents turned up for an excellent concert by the trio.

You may read a letter to the editor regarding this concert in the October 25, 2016 Verde Independent by clicking here.

Categories : Camp Verde, Event

Governing Board to consider Culinary Arts Certificate

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, January 10th, 2015

College Administration urges approval of culinary arts program to be located at Camp Verde High School

NEW 2The Community College administration will propose approval of a Culinary Arts Fundamentals Certificate at next Tuesday’s meeting (January 13, 1 p.m., the Rock House) on the Prescott Campus.  

In a statement urging the Governing Board to adopt the proposal, Vice President Stuart Blacklaw wrote:  “The Certificate in Culinary Arts Fundamentals is designed to equip students with basic skills in culinary arts including: culinary concepts and terminology, kitchen safety and sanitation, use of equipment, nutritional guidelines, measurements, food costing, and culinary theory and practice. To make a culinary arts program feasible, Yavapai College can lease a teaching kitchen with 6 separate units at Camp Verde High School. Currently there are over 200 students enrolled in secondary culinary programs in Yavapai County, however there is not yet a pathway to postsecondary certificates or credentials.”

According to Verde Executive Dean James Perey,  the “program provides instruction in culinary concepts and terminology, kitchen safety and sanitation, equipment usage, basic nutritional guidelines, standard and metric measurements, food costing, and theory and practice in the production of culinary products. Courses emphasize fundamental cooking techniques and preparation methods for hot foods, breakfast items, salads, sandwiches, dressings, breads and pastries.”

The College intends to lease space from Camp Verde High School for $5,000 a year to house the program.  It also intends to pay faculty in the program about $2,800 for teaching a four credit course.  

The recommendation comes from Dean Perey who wrote in the application to the Governing Board that “During the 2013-2014 I made three visits to culinary programs/institutes throughout the United States. Based on my findings it is not feasible to build new construction for a culinary arts program due to cost.”

The recommendation, which was not unexpected by those who carefully watch College activities,  will no doubt disappoint many in Sedona who were under the impression the College might seriously consider the Sedona Center for a culinary arts program. 

In describing the program in the January Agenda, the College states that once the program is set up, an advisory committee will meet up to twice a year.  The full agenda for the January 13 meeting where the proposal was made may be found by clicking here.  

 

Categories : Camp Verde, Culinary Arts, New Courses, Sedona Campus
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