Arrogance and disrespect for Verde Valley views hallmark of Prescott Administration’s decision to charge high school students fees in dual enrollment classes
The Penelope Wills’ administration announced at the December 8, 2015 Governing Board meeting that it was moving ahead on charging each high school student who takes a dual enrollment class at a high school in Yavapai County at least a $10 per credit fee. In doing so, the decision reflects an unparalleled level of arrogance and disrespect for citizen concerns about the cost of education in the Verde Valley.
HIDING FACTS?
Scott Farnsworth, the interim Vice President of Instruction and Student Development made the fee announcement to the Governing Board. He told the Board that “we’ve had conversations with principals and superintendents both, and looking at all the varying differences that are out there, we’ve asked in moving forward for a ten dollar per credit hour charge for dual enrollment classes.” He went on to say that “most of the superintendents and high school principals we visited with about this recognize where we are and that there are costs associated with dual enrollment.” (You may view his entire dual enrollment presentation to the Board by clicking here.)
What he did not tell the Board is that:
All 8 Verde Valley superintendents opposed the College assessing a fee on high school students in dual enrollment classes. (A letter opposing the fee signed by them is included at the end of this story.)
He also did not tell the Board that:
The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee, consisting of citizens from throughout the Verde Valley, unanimously opposed setting a fee for dual enrollment students. (A letter signed by them opposing the fee is included at the end of this story.)
When Representative Deb McCasland raised a question about the letter signed by the 8 superintendents opposing the fee increase, the Board lawyer ruled her question out of order.
Farnsworth attacks student motives.
It is a fact that no serious study of dual enrollment in the County has been undertaken. Yet, without an analytical basis to support his views, Farnsworth attacked the motives of many students who take dual enrollment classes. He stated that “students will take a class
not because they are particularly interested in it, or that they need it, it’s because their friend is taking it, or they heard it was kind of fun, or it’s an opportunity for them to kinda get out of the normal classroom day.”
Farnsworth suggests only money will bring students to their senses.
Despite the absence of a study of dual enrollment and its pros and cons in the County, Farnsworth plowed ahead giving his unsupported view that “the minimal amount that we are asking, ah,
is gonna to provide a little bit of skin in the game for these students and their families. That they recognized that once they start, ah a college education, that it becomes a part of the permanent record.”
In an interview given to the Verde Independent, Farnsworth elaborated on his view for the need to pay for high school dual enrollment saying that: “There’s that old adage that if you don’t pay for something, then you don’t value it, so we want students to recognize that, hey, this is a college education, there’s some worth to that.” Apparently, if this view is applied across the board to education, without “skin in the game” students won’t take their education seriously. Umm–think about it.
Unelected College bureaucrat may impose fees (tuition) on public schools without citizen or Board approval
In a demonstration of arrogance and total independence from what citizens in the County may think about public education, Dr. Penelope Wills stated during her interview with the Verde Independent that imposing a fee on students in public high schools is completely at her discretion—neither the board nor citizens can do anything to stop her. The reporter wrote that she said the new dual enrollment fee “does not need to be voted on and approved by the DGB to take effect.” She also stated to the reporter that the matter is “being handled internally.” You may view the entire story in the Verde Independent by clicking here.
Superintendents’ letter to Governing Board
12/8/15
Dear Yavapai College Governing Board,
Recently, representatives from Yavapai College notified local school districts of its intent to begin assessing a $10.00 per credit hour fee on dual enrollment courses taken by high school students. While this may not seem exorbitant to some, for many of our students and their families it will prove to be yet another barrier to higher education.
Many of our student’s lives are already formed and established in a veritable obstacle course of societal, familial, and institutional challenges. With many classes consisting of three credit hours, and others five, the cost quickly becomes prohibitive. While other community colleges around the state are not charging and embracing access to college, Yavapai College is looking to reduce its footprint in dual enrollment.
This action will create a setback in the relationship between the college and our schools that so many have been working so hard for so long to establish and sustain. This outcome is made all the more tragic for our students, our schools, and our community because it is so easily avoidable.
Research tells us that besides family income, early access to college is the single greatest indicator of successful post-secondary engagement. The College can help facilitate access to college rather than erect another barrier to those most in need. We support the attached recommendation of the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee.
As with much of Yavapai County, the needs of our community are great for our students and families. Upwards of 80% of our students are at or near the poverty line. We believe that it is only through collaboration, communication, and hard work that will we be able to make a real, positive, and sustainable difference for the coming generation.
We, the school superintendents of the Verde Valley, request that you rescind this decision to impose a $10.00 per credit hour for dual enrollment immediately arid without reservation.
We look forward to a future of partnering with the College to remove barriers, build bridges and multiply strong relationships thereby creating greater opportunities for the students we all serve. A good beginning would be for the college to reach out a hand in friendship and ask for nothing more than a sincere partner’s hand back.
Respectfully Yours,
Superintendents of the Verde Valley
Dr. Dennis Goodwin- Camp Verde
Mr. Scott Jacobson- Clarkdale/Jerome
Ms. Lois Lamer- VACTE
Mr. David Lykins- Sedona
Dr. Paul Tighe- Mingus
Ms. Barbara U’Ren- Cottonwood
Mrs. Karen Ward- Beaver Creek
Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee Recommendation 12/7/2015 to the Governing Board
The Yavapai College dual enrollment program is a critical component in serving the educational needs of students in the Verde Valley. It has a proven record of increasing access to college and assisting in the transition of high school students into post-secondary opportunities.
The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee recommends that there be no costs assessed to students or their schools who are participating in dual enrollment coursework through Yavapai College, and that the amount paid to the high school teachers by the College for teaching dual enrollment courses not be reduced.
Further, we recommend that the college continues and expands the conversations with the Verde Valley school districts on how more and greater collaborations can occur with the dual enrollment program.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Chevalier, Chair Sedona
Bill Regner, Vice Chair Clarkdale
Janet Aniol District 2
Carolyn Fisher District 3
Randy Garrison Cottonwood
Steve King Camp Verde
Leona Wathagoma Yavapai-Apache Nation