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Yavapai Community College in Northern Arizona

Archive for Sedona Campus – Page 7

College Executive Dean tries to bluff Sedona City Council saying “film school has returned”

By R. Oliphant

Wednesday, October 28th, 2015

Wills blames block scheduling, full-time students, and absence of dual enrollment for closing Film School; absolves herself of any blame as though Film School was under control of an alien power rather than her administration

Sometimes listening to Dr. Penelope Wills and her associates explanations about their decisions causes one to wonder if someone is not in Alice in Wonderland. That was surely the case when Wills appeared before the Sedona City Council October 27 and the issue of closing the Sedona Film School came up.

For example, Wills’teamed with Executive Dean James Perey to explain the closing of the nationally recognized Sedona Film School and its claimed resurrection on the Verde Campus. Perey claimed that “the film school is back, it’s on the Verde Valley Campus.” Perey was apparently hoping that no one listening knew how a real film school curriculum looked when compared to the Fall offerings on the Verde Campus.

For those folks from Missouri who say “show me,” the Blog has set out below the fall Scottsdale Film School curriculum, which can be compared with the fall “Film School” curriculum on the Verde Campus. The difference is so stark that Dean Perey’s remarks fall into the category of administrative prattle.

Scottsdale Film School Fall 2015

FILM TRAINING OFFERINGS FALL 2015

Only 12 credits of face-to-face training are offered on the Verde Campus while about 80 credits are offered at the Scottsdale Community College.

Dean Perey also said that one “of the real issues with the Film School program was that it was full-time. “Unless you were a full-time student you could not enroll in that program,” he said. He was joined by Wills’ who criticized the Film School program she was running at the time as a failure because of block scheduling, having full-time students, and not allowing dual enrollment. It’s a though Wills’ saw the Sedona Film School as in the control of some alien power rather than in control of her administration. Odd, very odd, to say the least. You may view the video of Dean Perey’s remarks on this issue by clicking here.

Both Wills’ and Perey ignore the College rosy press releases issued just 9 months before the announced closing of the Film School—hoping, no doubt, that memories in Sedona are extremely short.

For example, Yavapai College Director of Marketing and Communications Mike Lange, was quoted on August 9, 2012 in the Sedona RedRock News as stating:

“The Yavapai College film program is continuing and is being enhanced. It is not being dissolved.”

On December 11, 2012 the College issued a press release praising the Sedona Film School. This was just nine months before announcing it was being closed. In that College press release one source was quoted as saying

“The Sedona Film School . . . contributes so much to this community and to Yavapai College. Sedona can be proud to have a world-class film school with personalized one-on-one attention to its students by a staff that is dedicated to giving the next generation of filmmakers’ unparalleled education and training.”

In the December, 2012 College press release the College stated that the Film School was

“expanding [its] relationship with the renowned Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF) and .planning for a special series of technical workshops during the 2013 Festival.” It also stated that it had “launched a significant recruiting campaign and doubled its enrollment this year! In these tough economic times, that is a significant achievement. . . . The community truly banded together this past year to show support for the Film School and make a unanimous statement that ‘We love our film school’ and want to keep it in Sedona.’”

It turns out that all those press releases were Community College twaddle, if not outright deceptive.

Categories : Film School, Sedona Campus, Yavapai Community College

When asked, Wills’ refuses to provide opinion on continuing Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee in its present form (reporting to the District Governing Board)

By R. Oliphant

Wednesday, October 28th, 2015

Says: “You guys are good politicians, I’m not that skilled so I’m not going to answer that.”

Councilor Scott Jablow

Yavapai Community College President Penelope Wills appeared before the Sedona City Council October 27 to answer questions about the future of the Sedona Center. When asked about her opinion on continuing the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee to report to the District Governing Board by Councilor Scott Jablow, she refused. She said: “You guys are good politicians, I’m not that skilled so I’m not going to answer that.”

When asked about support for numerous recommendations made by the Advisory Committee, Wills’ said she could have given the Council information about what she has already done with some of the them but apparently could not “because the Board has not directed me to do anything at this time.”

For most careful observers, it is clear that Wills’ does not support the Advisory Committee continuing in its roles of reporting to the Governing Board. So, the evasive response to Councilor Jablow was expected. If you click here, you will see the full exchange between Councilor Jablow and President Wills on this issue.

Categories : Advisory Committees, Sedona Campus

Wills apologizes for leaving Sedona out of property tax increase promotion speech

By R. Oliphant

Wednesday, October 28th, 2015

Says she was unable to get to Sedona before June 2015 recommendation to increase property taxes was approved by Governing Board

Yavapai Community College President Penelope Wills appeared before the Sedona City Council October 27 to answer questions about the future of the Sedona Center. She began her presentation by apologizing for leaving Sedona out of her travels around the County promoting the tax increase prior to its adoption in June by the College Governing Board. She had met with Cottonwood, Prescott Valley and other municipal governments promoting the reasons she wanted to increase property taxes but not Sedona. Whoops

The only explanation offered by Wills at the Tuesday evening meeting for leaving Sedona out of her tax increase speeches was that she was “unable to get to Sedona.” Nothing more. Although the tax increase was approved in June, she went on to say that she was now giving the Sedona Council the speech she had given (apparently explaining why she wanted property taxes increased) “so you don’t feel left out.” The brief Wills’ statement apologizing to the Mayor and Council can be found by clicking here.

Categories : Sedona Campus, Taxes

Editorial suggests Sedona Taxing District secede from College

By R. Oliphant

Thursday, October 22nd, 2015

“Imagine what could be possible after we secede from college”

Christoper Fox Graham

In the October 21 editorial in the Redrock News, (Also in the Cottonwood Journal Extra) Managing Editor Christopher Fox Graham, outlines the future possibilities for Sedona and the Verde Valley if the residents could secede from Yavapai Community College and create their own East County community college. Mr. Graham points out that secession “would be a costly and litigious process for Yavapai College, but if President Penny Wills, and the Governing Board that is supposed to direct her actions, doesn’t listen to the needs of the Verde Valley — and understand the value of our tax money — a proposal by state legislators could make secession an alternative for taxpayers to have a return on our investment.”

This is an interesting and informative editorial and Blog readers can access it by clicking here. You are urged to read it.

Categories : Editorials/Essays, Politics, Sedona Campus, Verde Campus, Yavapai Community College

Wills’ asked to explain future of Community College in Sedona

By R. Oliphant

Wednesday, October 21st, 2015

“For the taxes we pay, we’re not getting nearly enough back”

Yavapai Community College President Penelope Wills is expected to face some tough questioning when she appears before the Sedona City Council at its October 27 meeting. The Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 4:30 in the Council Chambers, 102 Roadrunner Drive, Sedona.

Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty

In a letter to the College Mayor Sandy Moriarty wrote:

“The Sedona City Council feels strongly that Yavapai College should provide more educational opportunities and an active physical presence in Sedona, commensurate with the financial investment being made by Sedona’s residents and businesses through their property tax assessments.”

It is estimated that residents of the Sedona Taxing District annually pay $6,589,567 in primary taxes and $754,622 in secondary taxes to support the College. At least 80% of that tax money is spent outside the District by the College. It is also estimated that over $5 million dollars from Sedona/Verde Valley annually pass over Mingus Mountain where it is spent on the Prescott of CTEC campus at the Prescott airport.

For more information about this issue, please click here and you will be taken to the on-line article written by the Sedona Redrock News.

Categories : Politics, Sedona Campus

Sedona Town Hall Meeting on College

By R. Oliphant

Friday, October 16th, 2015

Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee to hold Community event Wednesday, October 21, 2015, 5:30 p.m. at Sedona Center

The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee will hold a Town Hall meeting regarding Yavapai College at 5:30 p.m. at the Sedona Yavapai College Building (the Sedona Film School building), Room 34, 4215 Arts Village Drive, Sedona.

Paul Chevalier, the Chair and Sedona Representative on VVBAC announced the meeting in a press release earlier this week. He wrote:

How about more opportunities for higher education right here in Sedona, right here in the Verde Valley, right from our Yavapai College? The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee (VVBAC) is holding a Town Hall Meeting to find out, to listen, to understand the needs of our Sedona community regarding higher educational learning opportunities from Yavapai College. We need your input to accurately present/convey to the Yavapai College Governing Board exactly what you feel is important to your future learning. To make sure we get your message perfectly clear, this meeting will be videoed so our Committee can accurately reference your concerns and requests. This will help us further develop our own recommendations and more correctly convey your higher educational needs to the College Governing Board.

We want Sedona residents, particularly Sedona students who need an easy-to-get-to local, affordable, and attainable education to have an opportunity to be heard and helped to achieve learning. Tell us what type of education you want. Do you want an education in hotel management? Do you want to learn how to build software? Do you want to get into a 4 year college after attending our community college? Do you need transportation or do you want to learn right here in Sedona? Do you need financial aid? Do you need help to figure out how to get financial aid At the Town Hall meeting you’ll have 3 minutes to speak, which is longer than Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and let’s face it, what he had to say made a huge impact and forever changed our society. There is no requirement to speak; just showing up has importance and shows you care about your education/future.

If you are concerned about improving higher education in our City and our Valley, this is the time to represent. It doesn’t matter if someone else speaks on the same topic you want to address; we want to hear from all of you about your concerns. Our Committee is working hard to make recommendations to the Yavapai Governing Board and these recommendations have to fit the needs of people who want more in their life. The quality of your life matters to us. Your presence and participation matter to all of us.

Categories : Advisory Committees, Sedona Campus

College data confirms Sedona Taxing District receiving little for its $7 million dollar annual payment to Yavapai College

By R. Oliphant

Friday, October 16th, 2015

80 percent of tax revenue collected in Taxing District not spent on Sedona Center

There is little disagreement over the claim that the Sedona Taxing District annually paid nearly $7 million dollars in 2014/15 in primary and secondary taxes to support Yavapai College. In a document dated October 1, 2015, the College conceded that about 80% of the tax revenue from the Taxing District for 2014/15 will be spent elsewhere. Here are some of the estimates made by the College in that document. SEDONA FINANCIAL ANALYSIS MADE OCT 2015

It estimated that it allocated $53,484 in direct costs to the Center. It then estimated, without any details, that it allocated $191,258 in indirect costs to the Center. This brought the total direct and indirect costs to $244,742. It added without any details that it put in $95,324 for preventative maintenance. In addition, it claimed it put in furniture, fixtures, equipment and library books costing $44,932. Since there were virtually no students at the facility, this figure seems questionable.

It also added into its costs the expansion and paving of the parking lot. This is claimed came to $1,073,564. Using the College figures, it appears that $1,458,562 was spent on the Sedona Center. This left $5,926,436 to be used elsewhere. That money found its way to the Prescott campus where it is helping build and renovate a $5 million fine arts building.

The College conceded in writing that it did not have any full-time faculty assigned to the Center during the academic year 2014/15.

Categories : Budget, Sedona Campus

Sedona Taxing District forks out $7 million annually to support College

By R. Oliphant

Sunday, September 27th, 2015

Sedona Facility Receives little in return for its huge tax investment

Using 2012 data, the City of Sedona reports (9/25/2015) that the Sedona Taxing District annually forks out over $7 million dollars to Yavapai College. Of that amount, $6,589,567 is paid through primary taxes and $754,622 goes to pay off General Obligation bonds.

Taxes 6 With total primary tax-based revenue in 2012 flowing to the College from Yavapai County property taxpayers of $43,701,144.00, this means the Sedona Taxing District alone contributed at least 15 percent of the revenue toward operating the College.

In the past two years the College has threatened to close and sell the Sedona Campus and shut down the well respected film program. Because of a wave of outrage at the potential closing, the District Governing Board backed off selling the property by settling a dispute with an adjacent landowner that had festered for a decade. However, the administration followed through on its threat to shut down the Sedona Film School. In fact, the College administration stripped the Sedona Center of all but one or two College credit courses taught by adjuncts. After two years, it has done little to return Yavapai College credit courses to the facility.

There are Osher Lifelong Learning courses offered by the independent nonprofit Osher Foundation. The Foundation is not a part of the College, rather it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pays Sedona Osher employees from a $2 million fund it set up for them. The College provides in-kind support by allowing Osher to use its facility.

The full story carried in the Redrock News online can be read by clicking here.

Categories : OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning), Politics, Sedona Campus, Taxes

Sedona City Government Demands Answers from College

By R. Oliphant

Sunday, September 27th, 2015

September 21 letter to Dr. Wills demands meeting with City officials in Sedona on future of Yavapai College

In a letter to Yavapai Community College, the Sedona Mayor and Sedona Council are demanding that President Penelope Wills appear before them and discuss the future plans for the Sedona Center and the Verde Campus.

Mayor Sandy Moriarty

In the letter, Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty states that the Council “feels strongly that Yavapai College should provide more educational opportunities and an active physical presence in Sedona, commensurate with the financial investment being made by Sedona residents and businesses through their property tax assessment.”

The Sedona Taxing District pays a little over $7 million dollars annually in tax revenue to support the College. There are only one or two Yavapai College classes being taught on the campus since the College administration’s effort to close the facility failed almost two years ago. Other programs held at the facility are financed and presented by the independent nonprofit organization, Osher.

The full story that was carried in the Redrock News online on September 25 can be read by clicking here.

Categories : Politics, Sedona Campus

Prescott resident and Prescott faculty member to be Sedona Community liaison

By R. Oliphant

Friday, September 18th, 2015

College again refuses to find Verde Valley faculty for important post in the Verde Valley–Prescott faculty member appointed as Sedona Community liaison

The Prescott based College Administration continues its track record of appointing only West County faculty to posts in the Verde Valley. Dean James Perey, for example, lives in Chino Valley while heading the Verde Campus. The newest appointment is Dennis Garvey, a Prescott resident and long-time Yavapai College faculty member on the Prescott campus.

Carpet bagger 2 In his 60s, he is also Yavapai College’s Dean of Lifelong Learning. According to the press release from the College, he has accepted the added role as the College’s Sedona community liaison with the goal of “working with the Sedona community to develop plans and programs for the YC Sedona Center that meet the community’s needs and support the College’s mission.” The announcement said that Garvey has already begun spending 2-3 days a week at the Sedona Center.

The College stated that he is to work with local community members, civic leaders, students and other stakeholders to develop a strategic plan for the Sedona Center that focuses on community educational needs while supporting the College’s mission.

Too bad no one on the Verde Valley faculty has the skill to undertake this important job.

Categories : Sedona Campus