First District Representative Bill Kiel requests further explanation from chair regarding  the time limit but receives no response

At the start of the January 28 all-day workshop,  Yavapai Community College District Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland announced she was holding  an “order” restricting Board members to just two minutes of questioning per presenter. She justified the limit by stating it was necessary “so everyone could participate.” The Board consists of five representatives.

First District Governing Board representative Bill Kiel questioned McCasland about the reasoning behind the extremely short restriction, but she did not respond. He argued that he had spent hours preparing for the meeting and could not understand the sudden “order” limiting his ability to ask experts about their research and various opinions they were providing  the Board.

In the Blog’s view, limiting a Board member’s questioning to two minutes—particularly during an all-day workshop—is unprecedented and excessively brief. This is especially concerning given that members may receive dozens, if not hundreds, of pages of data just three or four days  before a workshop.

Some presentations on January 28 were highly complex, such as the extensive financial briefing delivered by the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services. From the Blog’s perspective, a two-minute window is  woefully insufficient for meaningful discussion and opportunity with questions in this area, especially when it involves the following: A $126 million dollar budget, Arizona’s complex property tax law, fund accounting used by the College, and related matters.  It is clear that a thorough, clear understanding of these issues,  even for those on the Board who might possess  a strong background in accounting or finance, is challenging.

Moreover, the two-minute rule appeared to be inconsistently applied. For example, after Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine’s presentation, Representative Kiel exceeded the two-minute limit without interruption. Yet, at other times, he was abruptly cut off by the Chair or the Board’s legal counsel and cautioned that his two-minute time  for questions  was up.

The selective enforcement of this rule raises questions about its purpose and fairness.

It is worth noting that Governing Board members serve without compensation and have limited time before meetings to review extensive data. As a result, some may struggle to fully digest the material, leading to a reluctance—or inability—to ask substantive questions. Instead, they default to praising presentations and presenters, sidestepping serious inquiry, which makes the two-minute rule largely irrelevant to them.

By contrast, Representative Kiel stated that he spent hours reviewing the data and came well prepared. However, the strict time limit prevented him from asking all his relevant questions. Below is a video clip of an early exchange between Chair McCasland and Mr. Kiel regarding the two-minute rule—one of several clashes that unfolded throughout the meeting.

Payne completed the unexpired term of Paul Chevalier, will now hold office for six years; Kiel defeated long-time Board representative Ray Sigafoos in November

Toby Payne

Toby Payne and Bill Kiel were sworn in to office on December 18 by outgoing Yavapai County superintendent of schools Tim Carter.  Payne will represent Yavapai Community College District #3 for six years while Kiel will represent District #4 for the same amount of time. 

Payne was first sworn in as the District #3 Board representative for the Yavapai College District Governing Board on March 21, 2023 to fill the unexpired two-year term of Paul Chevalier, who resigned in January 2023. Kiel defeated long-time Governing Board member Ray Sigafoos in the November 2024 election.

Bill Kiel

Toby Payne is a second-generation Arizona native raised in Phoenix who spent twenty-five years in Cave Creek and Carefree. He spent thirty years as an entrepreneur in the audio-visual industry, as the founder of State Sound of Arizona, and also taught for ten years at the International Communications Industries Association Institute for Professional Development. Payne previously served on the Governing Board of the Cave Creek Unified School District and twice served as President of the Board.

He has worked with various non-profits and community groups for many years, including Arizona Town Hall, Kiwanis, site survey for the Mabery Pavilion on the Clarkdale campus of Yavapai College, the Growth Committee of the Clarkdale-Jerome School District, and the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association.

Bill Kiel is a licensed Civil Engineer with 40 years of professional experience. He has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He has managed major construction projects ranging in cost between $4,000,000 – $90,000,000.

He has over three decades of service on non-profit Boards. He currently serves on the Highland Pines Water District Board and is enrolled in the Gunsmithing Program at Yavapai College. Kiel has pledged to improve transparency with a goal of increasing  public access to information both at the Board and administration levels.

Front- page story suggests that free speech provisions in the Constitution and state legislation permit elected Board members to discuss community college matters with staff and faculty and openly speak to the community about college issues that concern them because  it is in the public interest to do so

The Sedona Red Rock News published a front-page article on December 11, written by Tim Perry, that examines a controversial policy adopted by the outgoing lame-duck Yavapai Community College Governing Board at its November meeting, the last of the year. The article raises serious questions about whether the policy infringes on the rights of elected Board members to engage with staff,  faculty, and the public on matters of public interest.

The new “code of conduct,” passed by the lame-duck Governing Board 4-1, explicitly restricts individual Board members from communicating with college employees. The policy states: “Under no circumstances should an individual board member direct or contact by any means a staff member concerning a college or community issue. Board members will refer all of their concerns and constituent concerns via email to the president to resolve or answer.”

Additionally, the code stipulates that “Board members do not speak to the press in any way that reflects negatively on their colleagues or the college.”

The Sedona Red Rock News article suggests that such provisions may amount to a “prior restraint” on speech, a concept that is frowned upon under constitutional free speech protections and state legislation. Legal experts argue that in general elected officials have a right—and indeed a duty—to meet with constituents, including staff and faculty, to gather information that is voluntarily offered. Such interactions are widely regarded as being in the public interest, particularly in matters concerning public institutions like Yavapai Community College.

The article’s focus underscores ongoing concerns about transparency and communication between the Yavapai Community College Governing Board, the college community, and the public at large.

You may read the entire article by clicking here:  https://www.redrocknews.com/2024/12/11/ycc-president-attempts-to-seize-control-from-board/

Deep roots in the community and decades of leadership and service experience

Patrick Kukendall

The Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter announced in a press release December 18  the appointment of Mr. Patrick Kuykendall to the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board. He will  represent District 4, which includes: North Prescott, Williamson Valley, Chino Valley, Paulden, Ash Fork, and Seligman.

Mr. Kuykendall is a lifelong resident of Prescott. He attended the Prescott Unified School District and graduated from Prescott High School. His father, a dedicated public servant, served multiple terms on the Prescott City Council and as Mayor from 2009 to 2016.

Mr. Kuykendall began his service to the nation by entering active duty with the U.S. Army in 1983, serving a four-year term. He later dedicated an additional 18 years to the Arizona Army National Guard, including a combat deployment in support of the Gulf War/Desert Storm. He retired from the military in 2005 with the rank of E-8, First Sergeant.

Following his military career, Mr. Kuykendall served as Executive Director of the California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve under the United States Department of Defense. In 2016, he transitioned to working with the State of Arizona’s Department of Labor Jobs for Veterans State Grant program. His career continued with roles as the State Veterans Manager for Arizona and later as the Arizona Business Services Representative for Yavapai County. According to the press release, Mr. Kuykendall currently collaborates closely with the Yavapai Community College Regional Economic Development Center.

Mr. Kuykendall’s appointment follows the resignation of current District 4 Board Member Chris Kuknyo, effective December 31, 2024. Mr. Kuknyo will assume his new role as an elected member of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on January 1, 2025.

To fill the vacancy, County Education Superintendent Carter publicly posted the position and received applications from three qualified candidates prior to the deadline. Superintendent Carter relied on the support of a Candidate Review Committee composed of District 4 community members, including:

• Craig Brown – County Supervisor and elected official for the area
• Dan Burns – Taxpayer representative
• Nicole Clower – Student representative
• Megan Hanna – Faculty representative
• Tyran Payne – Representative of economic development and first response entities

The committee reviewed candidate materials, prepared interview questions, and conducted evaluations, providing Superintendent Carter with its recommendations. Three finalists were interviewed on Monday, December 13, in Prescott, though one candidate later withdrew due to time commitment concerns.

Superintendent Carter further engaged the community by offering face-to-face meetings on March 16 in Prescott, as well as opportunities to communicate via phone or email. He consulted directly with current Yavapai Community College Governing Board members, college administration, and residents before finalizing the appointment. In his press release, Superintendent Carter expressed appreciation for the community’s participation and thoughtful feedback.

Mr. Kuykendall was officially sworn in at the Yavapai County Education Service Agency  on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. His term will conclude on December 31, 2026. Mr. Kuykendall has also indicated his intent to run for a full six-year term in the 2026 election cycle, which would commence in January 2027.

With his deep roots in the community and decades of leadership and service experience, Mr. Kuykendall appears well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the Yavapai Community College Governing Board and District 4 residents.

Citizens in District 4 may express their views to County Superintendent Tim Carter, who will make the appointment, by email at Tim.carter@yavapaiaz.gov, or meet personally for a 10-minute meeting between 9 am to 4 pm on Monday, December 16

There are three candidates vying to fill the remainder of outgoing District 4 Yavapai District Governing Board member Chris Kuknyo’s term, which expires December 31,2026. Their names were announced earlier this week.

Residents of District 4 can share their views with County Superintendent Tim Carter, who is responsible for making the appointment. They may email him at Tim.carter@yavapaiaz.gov or schedule a 10-minute in-person meeting on Monday, December 16, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Yavapai County Education Service Agency, located at 2970 Centerpointe East, Prescott, AZ 86301. Meetings will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The three candidates, in alphabetical order are:

Mr. Alex Daniels of Chino Valley. Daniels is a 2017 graduate of Chino Valley High School. He holds an Associate of Arts degree in Cyber Security and Networking from Yavapai College. He completed his Bachelor of Applied Science degree at Northern Arizona University. He is an IT professional (Systems Engineer) for Yavapai County Government.

Mr. Henry Ebarb of Prescott. Henry is a 2005 graduate of Prescott High School. He also holds an Associate of Arts degree, in Business Administration and Management from Yavapai College and two Bachelor of Science degrees from Northern Arizona University, one in Music Theory and the other in Political Science. His Masters Degree is from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Digital Marketing and Finance. He owns and operates several local businesses.

Mr. Patrick Kuykendall of Prescott. Kuykendall  is a 1983 graduate of Prescott High School. He entered the United States Army where he served four years and then another 18 years with the Arizona Army National Guard where he served a combat deployment in support of the Gulf War/Desert Storm. He retired in 2005 at the rank of E-8, First Sergeant. He has been serving veterans ever since, in several leadership roles.

Carter is expected to announce his decision on Wednesday, December 18.

In Sedona Red Rock News Christopher Fox Graham calls the restrictions on Board members’ communication with faculty and staff unconstitutional, arguing they violate fundamental free speech rights

Christopher Fox Graham

In a November 29, 2024 opinion column, Sedona Red Rocks newspaper managing editor Christopher Fox Graham expressed alarm over a policy adopted by the lame-duck Yavapai Community College Governing Board. The policy restricts communication between elected District Governing Board members and any member of the Community College staff. Should such communication occur, the staff member may face disciplinary action, even if the interaction involves an innocent question related to the College’s operations.

In his column, Mr. Graham alleged that the College “doesn’t have a grasp of basic constitutional law, or it would not attempt to strangle free speech in the throats of faculty members who want to discuss legitimate issues with their duly-elected board members for the benefit of the taxpayers who elected them.”

He warned, “Hopefully the incoming board . . . will have the wisdom to shut down this policy before litigation by an offending faculty member leads to a costly lawsuit the college will certainly lose, costing taxpayers tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars in legal fees that could be better spent on programs, facilities and student services.”

You may read his column found in the Sedona Red Rock News about  this issue by clicking here. 

Volleyball roster lists only one local player out of 17, with others hailing from Serbia, Brazil, and beyond. Men’s soccer and baseball teams also appear to fall short of the minimum local recruitment goals

During his resignation speech at the November meeting of the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board, outgoing Board member Chris Kuknyo made the following statement:

“When our sports teams had next to no local athletes, we said at minimum 25% had to be local, and now that’s so.”

A quick review of a handful of current athletic rosters suggests this claim is inaccurate.

For example, the Yavapai College volleyball team lists 17 players, but only one is from Yavapai County (6%). To meet the 25% target, at least five players would need to hail from the county. Instead, the team includes five international players, hailing from Serbia, Brazil, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Poland.

Similarly, the 2024 baseball roster comprises 38 players, with only four (10%) from Yavapai County—far short of the 25% benchmark.

The 2024 men’s soccer team includes 26 players, of whom only three (11%) are from Yavapai County. To meet the stated goal, the team would need at least seven local players. Like the volleyball team, the soccer roster features a strong international presence, with players from Colombia, Australia, Canada, Spain, the Cayman Islands, and Mexico.

These figures indicate that Yavapai Community College athletics has not yet achieved the 25% local athlete goal cited by Kuknyo in his remarks.

You may hear Mr. Kuknyo’s statement taken from his remarks at the Board meeting  below:

Jack Dilenberg, who had announced he was a candidate for the seat,  withdrew from consideration because of illness and only Mr. Payne completed the candidate paperwork process for filing in this District by the July 8, 2024 deadline

Mr. Toby Payne

It appears that Clarkdale’s Mr. Toby Payne, the current occupant of the District #3 seat on the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board, will continue to represent the District for six more years. This is because Mr. Payne is unopposed for the seat, having been the only candidate to complete the necessary paperwork for the District election. The deadline of July 8, 2024, has passed without any other candidate filing.

Note that the deadline to file as a write in candidate for any election that may be cancelled is July 22, however, it is not expected that anyone will file as a write in candidate for this seat.

Mr. Jack Dilenberg from Jerome had originally announced his candidacy for the seat but withdrew due to ill health.

Mr. Payne was sworn in as the District #3 Board representative on March 21, 2023, by outgoing Yavapai County School Superintendent Mr. Tim Carter. He was filling the unexpired two-year term of Mr. Paul Chevalier, who resigned in January 2023.

District 3 consists of Big Park, Bridgeport 1 and 2, Clarkdale, Clemenceau, Coffee Pot, Cottonwood, Fir, Jacks Canyon, Jerome 1 and 2, Mingus, Orchard, Quail Springs, Red Rock 1 and 2, Red Rock East, Red Rock West, Verde Village, Western, and Wild Horse.

 Mr. Payne’s term will run through 2030.