College Offices May Move South

Northland Pioneer College President Jeanne Swarthout told the board that financial and efficiency concerns were the driving forces behind the proposal. She explained that the college needs to reduce expenditures to stay below the state mandated expenditure limitations. If costs continue to increase and enrollment keeps declining, NPC could lose out on Title III funding, according to Swarthout.

“The driver is the expenditure limit and the desperate need to get our costs down,” she said.

Under the proposal, all stand-alone classes at the Silver Creek Campus would be eliminated, including basic classes such as English 101 and college algebra, the library would close and classroom space would be converted to administrative offices. Some distance learning classes, the performing arts program and computer lab would remain in place at the campus.

Swarthout told the board that the cost savings had not yet been calculated, but the college could expect to save at least $250,000 in staffing costs by making the change. She also explained that approximately 30 percent of the students at the Silver Creek Campus already travel to other sites for classes, and that the number of students enrolled in basic English and algebra classes is minimal. According to Swarthout, approximately 36 students would need to change their classes as a result of the plan.

She noted that not all staff members are convinced that the change is necessary and that concerns have been raised about the proposal.

“There is a lot of concern within the college that the process has not been used and this has not been discussed,” she said. “I acknowledge that, but we have made changes like this in the past without discussion. I am open to suggestions for ways to make it work.”

Board member Prescott Winslow asked Swarthout to create a document outlining the entire plan, and to make the document available to the board, college staff and the public.

“We need to see what we’re talking about and what we’re not talking about, and what we’re hoping to achieve,” he said.

Board member James Matteson asked whether remodeling costs had been calculated, and if there was a specific plan for how space would be used at both the Snowflake and the Holbrook campuses.

Swarthout explained that all of the costs had not yet been calculated, and proposed creating a written plan that the board could review in January and postponing a vote on the matter until February. She also noted that unused portions of the Silver Creek Campus could be leased to “an important county entity” to bring in additional revenue for the college.

“If there’s empty space this is a win-win,” she said.

Outside of the meeting, County Manager Jimmy Jayne explained that Navajo County is actively seeking office space to provide services to Snowflake-Taylor residents, including health department services. He noted that the county would be interested in leasing space at the Silver Creek campus if such space becomes available.

Residents of both Holbrook and the Snowflake-Taylor area asked the board to reconsider the plan and look for alternatives.

Holbrook Mayor Jeff Hill told the board that City of Holbrook officials were unaware that any such plan was being made until the night before the board meeting. He noted that the city and the community have a long history of supporting the college, including supplying the prime frontage land on which the Holbrook campus is located for only $10, and offering $500,000 for construction of the community building in which administrative services is currently located. “Clearly the City of Holbrook stands behind NPC,” he said. “We’re not willing to see the campus suffer because of a potentially isolated problem. We’re not convinced that moving administrative services will help overall.”

Holbrook Councilman Bobby Tyler echoed Hill’s sentiments and also pointed out that not only would Holbrook be hurt by the change, but by reducing services at the Silver Creek Campus, the college would also be weakening the Snowflake-Taylor community.

“Don’t take away from the people at the bottom of the ladder,” he said.

Other residents pointed out that library services at the campus do not replicate those of the towns of Snowflake and Taylor, and closing the library would negatively impact students and the community.

Librarian Margaret White noted, “The library functions as a stepping stone to help students accomplish their research goals. I am worried about students and the library that they won’t have. Getting rid of the library would be such a detriment to students and to the community.”

Residents also raised concerns that the taxpayers would be asked to fund future remodel or expansion if the college decides to once again offer full services at the Silver Creek Campus in the future.

“This seems like a long-term solution to a short-term problem,” Cedar Hills resident Linda Cahoon said.

Former board member and lifelong Holbrook area resident Bill Jeffers asked the board to take the plan off the “fast track,” and take time to fully weigh the benefits and consequences, as well as consider any alternatives.

“I came to learn more about what’s being proposed and I don’t think I did. What are the costs? What are the benefits? What are the options?” he said. “I think I’d look at the training center before you start closing campuses. I encourage you not to rush into this.”

Holbrook City Manager Ray Alley pointed out that there may be other solutions to avoiding exceeding the expenditure limitation, and that leasing part of the Silver Creek campus will not solve the college’s problem, since additional income cannot be spent due to the expenditure limitation. He noted that the city would be glad to work with NPC staff to try to find a solution.

“The community had not heard about this until last night,” he said. “It seems to be on the fast track and we need to have precise answers. The fast track is not good. We would like to see more information. Will we be losing jobs? Will people from Winslow have to travel? We ask you to slow down the process, disseminate the information and maybe we can come up with some solutions.”

Board member Winslow suggested that staff members arrange meetings with affected communities.

Swarthout agreed to create a written plan for public dissemination. The board will hear a second reading of the proposal at the next meeting, and the vote will be delayed until at least the February meeting.

The next meeting is set for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the Tiponi Community Center on the Painted Desert Campus in Holbrook.