Archive for Executive meetings

SHROUDED IN SECRECY, GOVERNING BOARD CHAIR MCCASLAND CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHY A TYPICAL LIVE BOARD MEETING AT THE ROCKHOUSE ON THE PRESCOTT CAMPUS IS “UNSAFE”

Secret 15 to 20 minute meeting held February 18 on the safety issue with no information made public afterwards:   Should students and the public be worried?

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board’s first order of business at its February 18 meeting was to call a secret executive session to discuss “Facility Safety and Security Measures.” Only three of the five Governing Board members attended the secret meeting in addition to College president Dr. Lisa Rhine.

The closed-door session, allegedly “ hosted” by Rhine, lasted approximately 15 minutes and the topic was “facility safety.”  When the attendees emerged from the session, they were smiling. However, not a word was uttered about the supposed campus safety claim being made by Chair Deb McCasland.

Notably, before Tuesday’s Board meeting, McCasland claimed in an email sent to the Governing Board members that she had learned of “safety concerns related to our board meetings.” The concerns, whatever they were,  appeared so serious to her that she switched the February 18 live meeting from the Rock House on the Prescott Campus to one on zoom.

Despite the change, McCasland has continued to withhold from the public any information about the alleged safety concerns. 

Deepening the mystery, at least two District Governing Board members had sought an explanation or evidence from McCasland to substantiate her safety concern claim prior to Tuesday’s secret executive meeting. Yet, even when directly asked  via email by them for facts, she rejected the request.

The entire mystery surrounding the public facility safety claim isn’t just unusual—it’s deeply unsettling to students at Yavapai Community College and the public.

IS ANOTHER LAND PURCHASE ON THE AGENDA FOR PRESCOTT CAMPUS?

Governing Board and Prescott based College executives hold secret executive meeting September 24 with announcement they were considering negotiations for additional lease or purchase of property or real estate in Prescott.  Residents left in the dark after  4-1 vote by Board approving without discussion a motion at the end of the session saying they approved of the secret instructions (whatever they were) given to staff at the meeting

Is the Yavapai Community College Governing Board planning to lease or purchase more land for the Prescott Campus? This question looms over the secret executive session held on September 24 at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus.

After the closed-door meeting, a motion was swiftly passed without any discussion, approving vague instructions for College representatives regarding the possible lease or purchase of real estate. The motion’s wording, which merely stated it approved the secret instructions given to staff during the meeting, seems deliberately crafted to keep county residents in the dark.” Notably, the vote on this undisclosed property decision was 4-1, with the sole dissent coming from Third District representative Toby Payne. He did not explain his opposition.

Once again, this highlights the College’s failure to transparently inform residents about possible significant financial decisions. Recall that the last secretive session resulted in an $11 million expenditure of taxpayer funds to purchase and begin converting a 42-acre church camp just outside Prescott into what is essentially looking more like another campus.

Where, if anywhere, are they going now?

GOVERNING BOARD HOLDS SECRETE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL LEASE AND/OR PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTIES OR PROPERTY IN YAVAPAI COUNTY

Two minute videotape of session leaves County residents once again in the dark about what was actually being discussed | Lots of speculation about meeting with some thinking it might involve  land for new faculty housing village to be constructed just outside Prescott Valley while some think it is for new land for CTEC expansion at the Prescott airport | Others have no idea

Yavapai Community College’s District Governing Board hastily convened a secretive executive session on August 17, 2023, at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus. According to the agenda, the purpose was to discuss potential property leases or purchases by the College within Yavapai County.

Following the conclusion of this gathering, neither the Community College nor the Governing Board issued any statement regarding the meeting. Once again, residents of the County find themselves in the dark about how their property taxes, which constitute the primary source of support for the Community College, are being utilized.

The lack of transparency has fueled wide-spread speculation about the nature of the acquisition. Is it land intended for expanding CTEC? Or could it be earmarked for the construction of the new faculty village just outside Prescott Valley? Or something else?  The veil of secrecy shrouding this matter leaves County residents with more questions than answers.

Regrettably, the sole record of this meeting is a brief video clip, lasting less than two minutes. It merely captures the Chair’s call to order, a seconding of the motion to call for an executive session, a reading of the agenda item, and a subsequent motion to adjourn. This paucity of information always raises concerns about the College’s commitment to openness and accountability in its dealings with the community it serves.

To see the video tape of the meeting, please click here.