College Board Asked To Delay Action On Snowflake Campus

Mayor Tom Poscharsky asked that the issue be placed on the council’s Feb. 10 agenda so it could be discussed in open session. Poscharsky also presented a draft of what he called a “barebones skeleton” resolution that he asked council members to consider adopting for delivery to the college board at its Feb. 17 meeting.

“I was at their last meeting, and several members of the board seemed to indicate they wanted to take action immediately,” said Poscharsky, who also attended the three listening sessions held on the Silver Creek Campus.

The mayor said he felt that the college board should know that the council views this very seriously, and the request should be made that no action be taken without weighing the options and the consequences.

The mayor had invited a representative from NPC to attend the council meeting and it was confirmed that Vice President of Administrative Services Blaine Hatch would attend, but he was not present.

Poscharsky reviewed the main points brought out in the meetings he has attended.

The first was the expenditure limitations that affect K-12 schools, community college, cities and towns. He agreed that it is a problem, and noted that Snowflake-Taylor Chamber of Commerce President Patty Matyas has asked State Senator Sylvia Allen to consider trying to get legislation passed with respect to that spending limitation, calling for a study committee and review by the state.

“This is an example of our government, where you have to get things back on the scales,” said the mayor.

The other items emphasized were the full time student equivalent (FTSE) numbers, and centralizing the administration in one location so they would have better communication with each other.

Councilman Byron Lewis researched FTSE and presented the results to the council. FTSE is full-time students, which at NPC requires 12 credit hours per semester. From fall 2006 to present the Silver Creek Campus had an average of 144.63 FTSE and a headcount of 6,362 from the fall semester 2006 to the fall semester of 2014. The White Mountain Campus in Show Low had an average FTSE of 452.76 and headcount of 15,518 and the Painted Desert Campus in Winslow had a FTSE average of 127.34 and headcount of 5,673.

“I’m not sure that those moving to take the library away have ever been to this library,” said Lewis, adding that they had probably not been to the Snowflake Library either.

“How are they going to increase enrollment by limiting services?” asked Lewis. He also noted that students receive letters from Northern Arizona University and Eastern Arizona College encouraging them to attend their schools. “We have a college right here that’s maybe not recruiting at the same level of intensity,” he said. “There’s some room for improvement.”

Mayor Poscharsky told a large group of Boy Scouts in attendance that they could get dual enrollment credits beginning their freshman year and could graduate from high school with an Associate of Arts degree, noting, “So without having to put any additional financial burden on your parents, you will have an AA.

“They have assured us these credits would be good for any college in Arizona. That has the potential of saving your parents thousands of dollars.”

“I think by having so many public meetings, we may be seeing an effort to wear down the public and demonstrate that we don’t care very much,” said Lowry Flake referring to the weekly listening sessions scheduled at the Silver Creek Campus.

Poscharsky explained there is another program offered that allows a student to finish the last 12 credit hours at no charge. “That’s a substantial amount of savings, as well,” said the mayor,” noting that this is designed to encourage those who are close to finishing their degree to come back.

Margaret White added that this is a Finish Scholarship, and there is also a Fast Start Scholarship under which high school students take summer classes at no cost.

Fire Chief Pat Hancock brought up the (Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) program offered to high school students, noting that students can graduate from high school with an AA in a variety of programs. The proposed changes to the college do not affect the NAVIT program.

“I, too, recognize the importance of continuing to have a campus here,” said Navajo County Supervisor Jason Whiting. He noted that Mayor Poscharsky and Town Manager Paul Watson have met with NPC President Dr. Jeanne Swarthout, and “There’s some open dialogue and some resolution.”

Poscharsky added that Swarthout met with the mayors and town managers from Snowflake, Taylor and Holbrook, stating, “We’re trying to be proactive with other members of the community to try to help them with their problems.”

The mayor moved to approve Resolution No. 15-02, a resolution requesting that the college board not take action with respect to the repurposing of the Snowflake campus until current concerns and proposed alternatives can be explored, and the consequences weighed. The motion passed unanimously.