“Someone who has devoted 24 years to the citizens and students of Navajo County deserves more than a plaque,” said NPC President Dr. Jeanne Swarthout as she presented Thompson with a framed landscape painting of the high desert plateau by Holbrook artist Ellen Simper.

Retiring Navajo County Community College District Governing Board member Neal Thompson, center, displays a painting by Ellen Simper presented by NPC President Dr. Jeanne Swarthout, left, and Board Chairman AT Sinquah following his resignation after 24 years on the NPC Governing Board.

“This is a tough position, balancing the concerns of taxpayers, faculty, staff and students,” said Thompson. “I appreciate the opportunity to have served.” Turning to fellow board member Daniel Peaches, who has served for 23 years, Thompson commented on the tremendous improvements in facilities and equipment made during their tenure. “The main things are the students and the impact NPC has made in their lives,” added Thompson.

Navajo County School Superintendent Linda Morrow will be appointing someone to fill Thompson’s seat until the general election in November. She hopes to make the appointment prior to the board’s next regular meeting on May 20.

The recognition of Thompson came after the board had adopted the preliminary budget for next fiscal year, approved new names for the buildings on the Holbrook – Painted Desert Campus, extended dual enrollments agreements, joined a purchasing cooperative, approved the scope of work for a facilities master plan, and authorized planned upgrades to the college’s video classrooms.

“The budget was developed based on broad discussions with staff, budget managers and the executive team,” said Blaine Hatch, vice president for administrative services. “Managers now have the tools to request and allocate budgets online, making it easier to compare requests to the goals in the strategic plan.”

Driven by higher fuel and utility costs, the budget reflects a 6.1 percent increase. However, county taxpayers will see a 4.6 percent decrease in their property tax rate. “The primary tax rate will drop 5.38 cents to the maximum allowed by state law, $1.1719 per $100 of assessed valuation. The secondary rate, used to repay general obligation bonds and certificates of participation, will also drop 1.2 cents, for a total savings of 6.58 cents per $100,” explained Hatch. Fiscal year 2008-09 will be the final year for the bond and certificate payments.

The budget includes an average salary increase of 4.5 percent. “By joining the Arizona School Board Trust health plan NPC will be able to keep health care benefit costs constant, while improving benefits to our employees,” Hatch added. Contributions to the state retirement system will also go down from 9.6 to 9.45 percent, a savings to both NPC and the employee, who contribute equally.

Hedging against the uncertainty over state equalization, tuition and capital improvement aid, the budget includes a “healthy contingency allocation, just in case funds do not come through at anticipated levels,” Hatch noted.

With the approval of the preliminary budget, the board locked the maximum levels for expenditures. A special public hearing on May 20 will allow the public to question the budget, prior to its formal adoption. The board will also conduct Truth in Taxation Hearings demonstrating how the tax rate is in compliance with state law. Those hearings will begin at 11 a.m.

The board also approved new names for the three permanent buildings on the Painted Desert Campus in Holbrook. The names were recommended by campus staff and students and were researched by the staff at the Petrified Forest National Park and Museum Association.

The Community Education Center will become the Tiponi Community Center. Tiponi refers to the mother or child of importance and connects the Navajo and Hopi cultures.

Nizhoni Learning Center is the new name for the main classroom/library building. Nizhoni translates to “beautiful” from the Navajo. The administrative and information services building will now be the Tawa Center, named for the Hopi Sun Spirit.

A formal dedication and naming ceremony will be conducted in conjunction with Discover NPC Night activities on Tuesday, April 29, beginning at 5 p.m. on the Holbrook campus.

Agreements to continue dual enrollment courses at Blue Ridge and Pinon high schools were approved. This program allows high school students to earn dual credits for advanced or vocational studies, at no cost to the student. In some cases, students can complete their associate degree at NPC before receiving their high school diploma.

The board also authorized NPC to join the Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures (S.A.V.E.), a purchasing cooperative consisting of Arizona school districts, higher education institutions, municipalities, counties, and political agencies. Members can utilize bidding contracts from other members to purchase supplies and services, without repeating the process themselves.

For several months, college staff has been developing a scope of work for a master facilities plan with the DLR Group. The plan would cover the four college campuses and college-owned facilities at Hopi and Whiteriver. The plan will examine architectural and engineering, demographics and civil engineering at a cost not to exceed $180,000. The board approved proceeding with the plan’s development.

As part of a scheduled upgrade to the college’s interactive video classrooms, purchases were approved for 15 new 42” LCD monitors and replacement technology in the video 2 classroom in Holbrook.

Under old business, Chester Crandall, superintendent of the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) asked NPC to partner in establishing two joint automotive training facilities, potentially in Show Low and Winslow. Crandall cited the historical partnership between NAVIT and NPC to create nationally certified welding and industrial maintenance programs that serve both high school and adult students. Dr. Swarthout indicated she has had preliminary discussions with a neighboring community college about a joint automotive training facility in Winslow.

The board also authorized President Swarthout to sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, which will commit NPC to becoming a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adding sustainability education to the curriculum.

Swarthout was also authorized to proceed with a college-wide method for reviewing the President’s performance. NPC faculty and staff will be using an online survey, with the results going directly to board members.

An intergovernmental agreement with Scottsdale Community College was also approved to allow NAVIT students to complete hospitality courses through SCC. NPC does not offer a hospitality certificate or degree program.

Apache County Higher Education Committee members Travis Udall and Tom Hansen expressed appreciation for the strong relationship with NPC. Udall told the NPC board members they were working on a five-year plan and doing market research to review community needs.

“We are in the second year of our intergovernmental agreement for NPC to provide services to Apache County,” commented Udall. “Our relationship has been very positive and we will be meeting with NPC administrators in June to plan for the future.”

NPC board members again thanked the Apache County committee for hosting an aerial tour of the St. Johns and Springerville/Eagar region, and the work being done at the power plants to explore alternate energy sources.

Kathy Boyle, executive director of the Arizona Community College Association, briefed the NPC board on improvements to the organization’s operational structure and successes in lobbying for community college issues before the legislature.

Other reports to the board covered the recent Higher Learning Commission training in Chicago; an HLC-Department of Education mandated visit to three NPC centers; restoration of the Holbrook Triumph School to the Painted Desert Campus; President Swarthout’s plan to meet monthly with the presidents of Mohave and Coconino community colleges; progress by the Criterion 5 subcommittee; Classified and Administrative Support Organization; Faculty Association; student government; and job vacancies and filled positions.

The next regular meeting of the governing board will be Tuesday, May 20 in the Tiponi Community Center, formerly Community Education Center, on the Holbrook – Painted Desert Campus. A study session will begin at 9:30 a.m., with special public hearings on the budget and taxation beginning at 11 a.m.