By Annyssa Howerton The Navajo County Community College Governing Board convened at the Holbrook Campus on Tuesday, Sept. 21, with Northland Pioneer College President Dr. Chato Hazelbaker regarding the upcoming ban on mask mandates for Arizona. Derrick Leslie joined telephonically and due to connectivity issues his vote was not available on all matters. Hazelbaker noted that NPC will adhere to Governor Doug Ducey’s mask mandate ban on college campuses that will go into effect today (Sept. 29). He stated, “We are redoubling some education efforts that we know make a difference. Governor Ducey has said recently that he believes our way out of the pandemic is through vaccines. We will be sharing scientific information from Biology faculty and Healthcare faculty about the vaccine.” Hazelbaker continued to say that there will be a zero-tolerance policy on campuses regarding mask shaming. NPC Friends and Family Director Betsyann Wilson announced that the first student to be selected for the Mary Kay Smith Lindy Nursing Scholarship is Emmalisha Yazzie. Wilson stated, “She works full time as a nursing assistant out of Little Colorado Medical Center in Winslow while also taking classes as a first-generation nursing student, which is also a full time job. She’s a single mom who homeschooled her son through COVID while taking prerequisites for the nursing program. The Friends and Family Scholarship window for the spring semester is Oct. 1- Nov. 10. There is an unprecedented total of over $60,000 to award for that semester. In other business, the board: * Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the Navajo County Community College District and the cities of Show Low and Snowflake to provide instructors for the Northern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy which will provide certified Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training to students who meet AZPOST qualifications and are sponsored by a law enforcement agency. With funding to be provided by each agency. * Approved dual enrollment agreements with Blue Ridge Unified School District No. 32, Holbrook Unified School District No. 3, Joseph City Unified School District No. 2, Round Valley Unified School District No. 10, St. Johns Unified School District No. 1, Window Rock Unified School District No. 8 and Winslow Unified School District No. 1. * Approved an intergovernmental agreement with St. Johns Unified School District No. 1 to provide concurrent enrollment courses. * Approved funding for Ad Astra Course Scheduling Software in the amount of $203,530 for a five-year term. The funds utilized will come from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds/Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund in the amount of $643,469 for year one costs and Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education and Institutional Resilience and Expanded Postsecondary Opportunity grant funds to cover the cost for years two through five in the amount of $140,070. * Approved a revision to fiscal year 2022 budget to reflect the increase in state appropriation monies in the amount of $487,200 and a reduction in the expenditure of grant funds in the same amount * Approved the 2022-23 Budget Development Calendar. * Approved the SMARTnet renewal for 2021-22 in the amount of $214,483. * Approved the purchase of Cisco Meraki Security Cameras in the amount of $438,090 utilizing CARES funds. To purchase a total of 463 cameras, 100 mounts, and 463 one-year licenses. These cameras will replace old cameras and will provide cameras for needed areas, in an effort to maintain and increase security measures to keep students safe on all campuses and centers.
