During the Navajo County Community College Governing Board on Tuesday, Oct. 19, Northland Pioneer College President Chato Hazelbaker noted that he is the Arizona community college representative on the governor’s Interagency Broadband Advisory Council, which is a group of approximately 30 people established as a dedicated group to support Governor Hobbs efforts to ensure fast, reliable and affordable broadband access to all Arizonans. The funds of $900 million will be spent to improve high-speed internet networks throughout rural Arizona as part of the country’s Investing in America Initiative.

“The most important thing for you to know right now is that this is about the middle mile connectivity,” explained Hazalbaker. The funds will address the connectivity needs of unserved and underserved communities, with the middle mile to be made up of high-capacity fiber lines that carry large amounts of data at high speeds over long distances between local networks and global internet networks.

According to a report by the Arizona Commerce Authority, many rural and tribal communities are left behind in the digital age. Approximately 796,000 households in Arizona are without access to a wired connection capable of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, and 862,000 households have access to only one internet service provider.

NPC Friends & Family (NPCFF) Executive Director Betsyann Wilson provided a report on activities for the organization. Wilson stated that Pedal the Petrified, a bike ride that raises money for scholarships, was a great success and went smoothly. Out of the 250 that registered for the ride, 220 showed. “I think that’s pretty typical. And part of it was probably due to the weather,” she noted. Although all the totals are not in yet, Wilson said that the fundraiser should net about $35,000-$37,000 for student scholarships.

A new scholarship mentioned by Wilson, is from the White Mountain Commissioned Officers Association in Whiteriver has funded $2,000 intended for Native American students in allied and public health, as well as nursing programs.

Wilson stated that NPCFF received approximately $49,000 in donations in the first quarter of this fiscal year. She also added that the scholarship window is open for the spring semester and will close on Nov. 16.

Director of Construction David Huish provided an update on constructions projects within the college. During which, he stated the Show Low campus’ Skills Center electrical work is 99% complete, and what isn’t finished won’t stop the building from being operational. “The contractor needs to schedule with the city for inspection,” Huish added.

Hazelbaker presented the president’s report to the board, during which he stated that the President’s Extended Cabinet made two revisions to the college’s strategic action plan. One of those modifications was deleting the One Stop Shop construction project. “That doesn’t mean that we’re not doing largely one stop shop. What it really means is that we’re in a place where we really constructed spaces so that we can co-locate services, which is part of a one stop shop concept.” He added that they hope to re-address it in the future as the bigger construction projects are completed.

Another change was breaking up the onboarding project and professional development into two parts instead of one large project. “What we did is we modified the onboarding project that HR (Human Resources) is working on, to just focus on onboarding, and then we’ll sequence that professional development part of that project.”

Hazelbaker also explained that a review of the strategic enrollment management plan draft will begin in November and then provide feedback to those working on it.

Russell Kupfer, Director of Financial Services, reviewed the results of the NPCFF 2022-2023 financial audit. The auditor issued an opinion that the financial statements were presented fairly, in all material respects and in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Some highlights from the report were as follows: Total assets increased by $380,226, due to restricted contributions and donations to endowed scholarship funds and return on net investments. Total net assets increased by $380,226 as a net result of the above activity. Total revenue decreased $216,642 as a result of decreased contributions and an increase in direct benefits to donors. Total expenses increased by $77,281 due to increase awards of scholarships. Overall cash position increased $186,228.

Kupfer also reviewed the results of the Northeast Arizona Training Center audit for 2022-2023. The auditor issued an opinion that the financial statements were presented fairly, in all material respects and in conformity with GAAP. Some highlights from the report were as follows: Total assets and total net assets decreased $74,725 due primarily to a decrease in cash related to the legislative appropriation pass through from NPC. Total operating revenue decreased $735,096 due, again, to the legislative appropriation identified above. Total expenses decreased $20,650, due to a repairs and maintenance decreasing at the training center. Overall cash position decreased $651,540 due to spent legislative appropriations to be used for capital projects at the training center.

Both audits were conducted by BDR Richards, CPA’s, PLC. Kupfer pointed out that neither of the two audits indicated any deficiencies.

Another presentation was made by NPC Faculty Association member Jessica Reek, who is a professor in College & Career Preparation, gave a report on the efforts to relaunch a construction and learning community and Integrated Education & Training in Whiteriver.

Board member Elias Jouen was absent from the meeting.

In new business, the board:

* Approved Fiscal Year 2025 budget calendar and assumptions. The development of the budget cycle starts in July of each year, when NPC develops and submits its State Aid request. The consolidated AZ Community Colleges State Aid request is due to the state by Sept. 1 of each year. In order to complete the State Aid Request, transactions for accounts payable, purchasing and grants for the prior year ending June 30 must adhere to a tight deadline for completion.

* Approved two design fee contracts with SPS+ Architects (SPS+) for expansion of the Blunk Health Science Center for $314,158 and the remodel of the Ruby Hill Center for $163,621 for a combined total of $477,779. In August 2023, the District Governing Board established a reserve from the fund balance for construction projects at Little Colorado Campus (LCC) in Winslow in the amount of $6 million that will span several years. These design fees will be paid from that reserve.

* Provided support for the Letter of Nomination for Board Member Derrick Leslie to serve on the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. Funds for board member travel are budgeted annually and are currently sufficient to cover the required costs for meeting and conference attendance.