Community College leadership rejects his request for information about  spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on 3D printers forcing Toby Payne to resort to Arizona’s Freedom of Information Act in order to get the requested information

Over the past decade or more, a recurring saga has unfolded within the Yavapai Community College Governing Board where four out of five Sedona/Verde Valley District three Governing Board representatives found themselves locked in a battle of wills with the Community College leadership over obtaining information needed to carry out their responsibilities.

District 3 Governing Board Representative Toby Payne

The saga reached a crescendo when former representative Mr. Paul Chevalier had to wield Arizona’s Freedom of Information Act like a sword to pry open the vault of information concerning a staggering $10 million once earmarked for a teaching brewery in the Third District. (The brewery project was  later withdrawn by the College from consideration.)

Fast forward to today, and Mr. Tobey Payne, who took over for Mr. Chevalier,  finds himself traversing the same treacherous terrain, compelled to employ the same legal tool to unravel the mystery behind the potential expenditure of anywhere from half a million to a cool million on 3D concrete home printers.

Here’s how Mr. Payne articulated in a letter his exasperation at the abysmal treatment he received from the Community College when he dared to seek clarity about the 3D printer project:

Dear Editor,

As the District 3 Yavapai College Governing Board member at Yavapai College, I am deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability regarding the expenditure of taxpayer funds, particularly in the context of potential investments in educational technology.

Recently, I found myself facing numerous roadblocks when attempting to obtain crucial information about the efficacy of the Community College’s spending on 3D concrete printers. Despite my fiduciary duty to the taxpayers of Yavapai County, my inquiries were met with resistance and dismissal from both President Dr. Lisa Rhine and Board Chair Deb McCasland.

My initial request to ascertain how many students had participated in training courses associated with the current half-million-dollar printers over the past three years was rejected outright. Subsequent attempts to understand the rationale behind an additional proposed $600,000 investment in another printer were similarly rebuffed.

Rather than engaging in constructive dialogue about the college’s strategic direction and the prudent use of resources, I received dismissive responses questioning the relevance of such information in my role as a board member. This lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable, particularly when significant taxpayer funds are at stake. I had to resort to Freedom of Information Act requests in order to get the information I was requesting.

I firmly believe that as elected representatives entrusted with overseeing the college, board members have a responsibility to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of students and taxpayers alike. This includes conducting thorough evaluations of proposed expenditures and assessing their impact on educational outcomes.

It turns out that Yavapai College has spent over $500,000 in 3 years for equipment for under 35 students to take the 3/D Home Building Course and now wishes to spend $600,000 more. CTEC is an exemplary program which I fully support. I question spending over a million dollars which serves so few students.

Despite facing resistance at every turn, I remain committed to fulfilling my fiduciary duty and advocating for transparency and accountability at Yavapai College. Taxpayers deserve nothing less than full transparency and informed decision-making from their educational institutions.

Sincerely, Toby Payne

District 3 Yavapai College Board Member

So far, two persons pulled packet in District #1, one person in District #3

So far, at least three persons have shown interest in gaining a seat on the Yavapai Community College Governing Board. In District 1, the incumbent Ray Sigafoos has pulled a packet and filed a statement of interest. William Kiel has likewise pulled a packet and filed a statement of interest in District 1.  Neither has yet filed a petition.

The election for these seats, if more than one person applies, is November 5, 2024. The first day to file petitions is June 10, 2024. The last day to file petitions is July 08, 2024. Candidates should re-check these dates with the County Education Superintendent.

In District three, the incumbent is Tobey Payne.  Mr. Payne was appointed in March 2024 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Paul Chevalier.  That term ends December 31, 2024. So far, Mr. Payne has not pulled a packet.

However, Dr. Jack Dillenberg, has pulled a packet and filed a statement of interest in District three.  The following background information about Dr. Dillenberg was  found on the Jerome Town Council website. (https://jerome.az.gov/dr-jack-dillenberg)

“Dr. Jack Dillenberg is Dean Emeritus of A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH) after serving fifteen years as the Inaugural Dean.  After dental school he served as a Dentist in the US Navy then practiced at a residential facility for people with severe disabilities before moving to Jamaica to work in a very rural clinic for their Ministry of Health.

“Prior to joining ASDOH, Dr. Dillenberg was Associate Director for public health programs in the California Department of Health Services and prior to that served as an Area Health Officer serving the west area of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

“During most of the 1990s, Dr. Dillenberg served in several capacities in the Arizona Department of Health Services, including four years as its Director.

“Dr. Dillenberg is the recipient of a great number of honors and awards, including the Arizona Medical Association Humanitarian of the Year, the Fresh Start Foundation Man of the Year, the Harvard School of Public Health Alumni Award of Merit and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. Most recently, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry 2019 Distinguished Service Award.

“He currently is the executive clinical director for the newly created non-profit Pacific Dental Services Special Needs Dental Clinic in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Dillenberg serves as the Board President of Global Smile, Health a 501c3 nonprofit making a difference in global oral health. He also serves as the Global Ambassador for the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, and currently is the Board Vice-Chairman for the Brighterway Institute. He has served as Mayor of the Town of Jerome, Arizona and was selected as a Public Member of the Arizona State Supreme Court Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee.”

Filed statement of interest and has opened a committee

District Four Yavapai Community College Board member, Chris Kuknyo, has expressed interest in pursuing a position on the County Board of Supervisors for District Four. He has taken initial steps by filing a statement of interest and establishing a committee. However, he has not taken the final step of filing his petition.

Kuknyo joins a cohort of Republicans vying for this seat, currently occupied by Craig Brown since 2011. Should Kuknyo proceed and win in the July 30 primary, he will need to resign from the Yavapai District Governing Board he currently occupies.

Three days before the event the College declared it had no affiliation with the group and had not authorized the group to use its name or logo

Three days before the Arizona College Republicans United  “Second Annual State and National Convention” was being held at the Prescott Vibes, Yavapai Community College issued a short statement distancing itself from the group.  The statement read:

“Yavapai College has been made aware of a July 30 College Republicans United event and wishes to clarify that Yavapai College is not affiliated in any way with the event. Yavapai College has not authorized this group to use the College’s name or logo. Additionally, there is no sanctioned Yavapai College student club or other sanctioned Yavapai College organization connected to this group.” (Click here to read the College announcement.)

No additional information further explaining the reason for the statement was forthcoming from the College.

Press reports about the event had raised concerns about the Republican group’s alleged association with far-right speaker Nick Fuentes and its history of hosting white nationalist speakers. Embry University in Prescott appeared to take a silent stand by much earlier rejecting without comment the group’s request to use its site for the convention. The Hassayampa Inn in Prescott  had also earlier announced  that it would not be hosting the event.

Moreover, the Maricopa County Republican party had publicly distanced itself from the controversy surrounding the event, issuing a statement on Twitter clarifying that they “never authorized, sponsored, or promoted” the upcoming July 30 College Republicans United convention. The party’s stance appears to reflect a commitment to distancing themselves from any connections to controversial figures and events, emphasizing their dedication to a more inclusive and respectful political atmosphere.

College says just keep calling it the “Verde Campus” although it is no longer considered a campus or branch campus for accreditation purposes.  Is this a psychological blow to the respect and admiration of the Verde Campus?

Recall that the Blog informed its readers in a story September 1 on the fact that after 50 years, the Verde Campus will no longer be considered a branch campus of Yavapai Community College.  It is an “additional location.”  The change in designation was brought about by a new definition of a “campus” or “branch campus” by the Federal Department of Education.

Raquel Henderson, a reporter for the Verde Independent, did a story about the designation change, which  appeared in the Verde Independent October 18 issue of that newspaper.

In an interview for her story in the Independent, she asked the College’s Outreach Director Tyler Rumsey about the designation.  She asked: If the Verde Campus  doesn’t fit the definition of a “campus” or a “branch campus,” what is it?   He responded saying, “we don’t know yet.”

According to Rumsey, so far as college officials are concerned, everyone can keep calling it the “Verde Valley campus.”

Dr. Rhine told Ms. Hendrickson that “the change in designation has absolutely no effect on the academic offerings, student or public services, cultural enrichment activities, or the college’s commitment to investing in the Verde Valley Campus to provide accessible, affordable education to our students,” Rhine said. “In fact, despite the designation change for accreditation, the College plans to continue to refer to the Verde Valley location as the ‘Verde Valley Campus.”

As pointed out by the Blog September 1, Dr. Rhine has not suggested  what changes could be made on the Verde Campus that would return it to a more prestigious” campus” or “branch campus” designation.

Critics argue that the change adds a psychological arrow to the quiver of the Prescott based administration  in its effort to maintain the tightest possible control  of the Verde Valley Campus.  Lowering its prestige, goes this argument, may lower the value of the college in the eyes of local and regional potential student applicants who will choose other institutions to attend.  

Critics also argue that removal of the Verde Campus designation sends a clear message to everyone in Yavapai County that the Prescott location is the only true campus in the County and, therefore, its most prestigious learning center.