Archive for Yavapai Community College – Page 7
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.
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.
“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.
Wines and fine food on the menu for $125 per person donation
The Southwest Wine and Dine in the Vines” event is set for October 24. This fall event was originally created by the former Greater Verde Valley Chapter of the Yavapai Foundation. The College put the Chapter out of business in 2013 but kept the annual event. Tickets are $125 per person with a portion tax deductible.
According to the College, this year’s event “features Arizona wines and fine foods with a total of over 30 winemakers, restaurant owners and chefs providing tastings of their favorite edibles and drinkables.”
The College says that tickets may be obtained from volunteers or by calling Janice Soutee at 928-776-2015. The College website says for more information contact Abby Biro at (928) 776-2359 or email abby.biro@yc.educontact. Click here to go to the website.
Tuesday Workshop was intended to persuade a majority of Board to increase property taxes
College president Dr. Penelope Wills and her vice presidents were hard at work during Tuesday’s workshop in Prescott with one goal: get at least three members of the District Governing Board to approve the 2 percent tax increase she is demanding.
She already has two of the Board members in her pocket on this issue: Present Chair Pat McCarver, who never saw a tax increase for the College she couldn’t support, and former Chair, Ray Sigafoos, who has supported both tuition and tax increases during his long tenure on the Board, have lined up solidly behind Penelope. Both are well aware that filling the Community College coffers with tax revenue is a boon to the economy on the West side of the County–the areas they represent.
Deb McCasland is most outspoken in opposition to the tax increase; Al Filardo seems to be sitting on the fence, and Steve Irwin is quiet about his intentions. The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee has unanimous said it opposes a tax increase at this time.
Citizens are invited to attend the public hearing on the Penelope Wills tax increase proposal, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 11 a.m. in the Rock House. The Rock House is located on the Yavapai College Prescott Campus, 1100 East Sheldon Street in Prescott.
A vote of three members in favor of the increase puts it automatically into the County property tax collection plate. There is no citizen vote or review possible of the decision.
It is estimated that the proposed tax increase will cause Yavapai community college district’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to increase from $183.59 (total taxes that would be owed without the proposed tax increase) to $187.21 (total proposed taxes including the tax increase).
This proposed increase is exclusive of increased primary property taxes received from new construction.
Prescott Daily Courier says suspect in Houston shooting played men’s basketball at YCC
The May 5 Prescott Daily Courier is reporting that Elton Simpson, a suspect in the “failed attack on a Texas community center that was hosting an event displaying cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad is believed to have a connection to Prescott’s sports community going back more than a dozen years ago.” 
According to a story written by sports editor Steve Stockman, Simpson, who was identified by the FBI as one of the suspects from Sunday’s shootout in Garland, Texas, played on the Yavapai College men’s basketball team in Prescott during the 2002-03 winter season. You may read the complete story in the Daily Courier by clicking here.
State contribution to College will not be reduced; some additional money coming to the College
The cuts in Community College state aid in Arizona’s recently approved budget did not affect Yavapai Community College. In fact, it apparently will receive more funding from the state this year than last year, although the Administration has not provide details of how much additional funding may be received.
Sources who the Blog believes are reliable tell it that the College will receive an additional $300,000 from the State of Arizona this coming year. That should be good news for Yavapai County taxpayers.
However, the Wills’ administration is twisting arms and politicing throughout the County for at least a 2% tax increase. That increase, if approved, comes on the heels of a 4% tuition hike that will already go into effect next year.
Film program on Verde Campus, not at Sedona Center
The executive dean of the Community College Verde Valley Campus, James Perey, reported at the March District Governing Board meeting that a modified film & media arts program is being developed for the fall 2015 semester. This program along with culinary, hospitality and enology certificate programs, will be based at the Verde Valley Campus. He also said that he is seeking to find a way to offer welding and/or automotive programs “in conjunction with Verde Valley academic partners.”
Construction of $750,000 elevator for Performing Arts Center on Prescott campus begun
Photo from Governing Board agenda of February, 2014.
It was announced at the December Governing Board meeting that construction has begun on an elevator for the Performing Arts Center. Budget estimates for this project put the total cost at around $750,000 (see February 2014 proposed capital budget in February, 2014 Governing Board agenda). Over the last four years, the Community College has allocated an estimated $5 million dollars in upgrades to the Performing Arts Center on the Prescott campus. The facility is used almost entirely by Prescott and Prescott Valley residents. Most of the cost of the upgrades is being paid by Yavapai County taxpayers.
Administrators and Prescott residents joyous over new tennis complex; some taxpayers weep
The decision by the Yavapai Community College Governing Board to spend
Commentary
more than $1.1 million dollars of taxpayer money for a state-of-the-art tennis complex on the Prescott campus was joyously celebrated December 11 by Prescott dignitaries and the Yavapai Community College administrators. The College paid $840,000 for the tennis courts plus $330,000 for surrounding road repair, drainage, parking lot, lights, etc.) The City of Prescott kicked in $25,000.
For taxpayers not living in the Prescott area, it was a sad day as the College continued its Country-Club-like attitude toward spending scarce County resources on such projects. This project comes as no surprise to Verde Valley residents as it continues a decades-long College mentality of using County taxpayer funds for athletic and cultural projects almost exclusively for the benefit of Prescott area residents. Read More→