Dear Maricopa,
The Alvarez and Marsal presentation to the District was very interesting. The format was professional, charts and diagrams were presented in up to date formats, and the delivery was polished. What’s more, this was one of those meetings that represented a wonderful opportunity to bring together brilliant minds and collective centuries of educational experience collectively. It could have been an incredible opportunity to learn more about the process and purpose of our District.
Instead, the representatives of Alvarez & Marsal borrowed our watch and told us what time it was. Their leader, Sajan George, became defensive when questioned. Lots of questions were left on the table.
I found it interesting that A&M representative concerning said he thought the District would be hostile to being reviewed, but he found that this was not the case. Perhaps that is because the Maricopa system and its employees are constantly being evaluated. I have been amazed at the number of inside and outside auditors and system checks running on a continuous basis. The employees and people of Maricopa are professional. This should have never been a question in anyone’s mind, and the idea that employees would resist the review should never have been a consideration. This review may be horribly expensive, and still is politically charged but it is manageable, and all the professional people of Maricopa are committed to trying to get the District’s money’s worth.
To continue with a major concerns about the presentation, let me first give an illustration. There was an teacher years ago who had a heart and passion for “throw away” students — ones who were headed for a life of crime and soon would be found in jail. This teacher went to the District and asked to teach a class of all of these disruptive students,. The District did so and within a year, this teacher was astounding parents, faculty and the District with the improvements. Their test scores and attendance both were better. But then a group of well intentioned people was brought in to assess the school and do research on how to make the school better. The line was drawn as to where school officials wanted to be in the rankings and what they needed to do to get there. You guessed it! This class, even with improvements of 100% for these students, was dragging down the schoolwide averages, so the class was ended!
THIS WAS WHAT District employees where begging Mr.George to hear, but he became defensive rather than listening and learning. This was disappointing. Instead of being defensive, the professional and respectful response would have been to say, “Let me see if I understand your concerns and what you are saying. Let me make sure we are focused on what you see as the priority.” OOPS! That is not what happened. Instead, our employees, many with decades of experience, were told that they, our employees, did not understand.
Then an employee pointed out to A&M that the teacher in the classroom is the biggest component to student retention. The response: A&M’s contract does not include the need to look at faculty. The reading of this contract seems to be selective and narrow and not focused on what were are being told the focus is going to be. All things related to the mission and purpose and goal of student retention and success, IF THAT TRULY IS THE GOAL, should be on the table and a part of the contract.
Many issues need to be discussed about the particulars of the meeting. The value of statistics is in knowing how to apply them and what they are being used to compare. When A&M’s statistics were questioned, Mr. George tried to defend his presentation and portray the concerns as an attempt on the part of the employees to not improve. This was a mischaracterization of the employees’ comments and was extremely unfortunate!
What should we expect from A&M in the future? I hope that after further review, our outside consultants will change their approach. Rather than questioning the motives of professionals with centuries of experience, I hope our consultants become better listeners and learners.
Dear Maricopa,
I appreciate all of your concern for me, the calls and emails. Thank you! I have been in politics a long time. I am more than OK!
I will not attack the people nor the comments made, nor do I want or need any of you to write anything or say anything about the comments made at the Board meeting! Everyone, please realize, the members of the public who showed up in support of Colleen Clark are entitled to their opinion and should be given the right to express it and not be attacked, and no attempts should be made to invalidate their honestly expressed feelings. They know and love Ms. Clark and have experiences with her in arenas that she does very well in. Respect that fact, please! To borrow a phrase from last night, they “just do not know the Colleen Clark that we know” and the damages of impetuous behavior and lack of leadership over the past 9 months that have placed the District in such peril
I know how hurt you are by the “Servant Leadership” attacks you have endured. I know the betrayals you speak of. I know and share your feelings. I share your fears for the total lack of understanding and comprehension of the liability the Board’s behavior has brought to bear on this District. I share with you the knowledge of what is most important to the future success of the District and our students and all the work that each of you do. There were people from outside our District with high level professional experience and influence who saw and realize more and more what all of us have been trying for nine months to say. Just hang in there. Remember, most of you were here before this mess began and you will be here to pick up the pieces after they are gone. I apologize to you, for that will be your lot, and I thank you for doing what you do best.
For the past nine months, we have cried out as the fouls of this Board’s conduct were committed and we have tried to raise awareness. Know that our cries have been heard. Continue to work hard, do a good job and be the professionals that you are. Know that I will continue to work with Dr. Glasper to secure and protect the integrity of the policies, as well as the integrity and all that the District Accreditation counts on, with all the heart and passion I have. Please, listen to Dr. Glasper as he leads this District through some of the most difficult of times. More than ever, you must rally behind him. Let’s keep our eye on the ball and pull together for the students, try to ignore the distractions and lack of accountability and let us all just do the jobs we are in a position to do. Focus on the positive, focus on all the good that Maricopa does and GET EXCITED about doing even more good, even when it is hard to do. There is so much opportunity out there calling out for hearts and minds just like yours, to reach out and touch with your passion and energy. Let’s see how many of the world’s problems we can solve together.
I understand that many of you are angry and frustrated, but I ask that you not do things that will only get you in trouble. To send out improper emails, as was done recently, makes the person who did it no better than those he or she wished to criticize. I have had so many thank me for saying what they cannot. This is why I continue to say and do what I do! Please let me be the voice of those of you who are afraid to express your frustration. Contact me and I will help you organize in appropriate, legal and effective ways to help protect our District from the destructive people who are threatening it. And to the person who sent the recent inappropriate email, I would ask that rather than wait to be caught, come forward, apologize and beg for our forgiveness. I pray this Governing Board will accept some of the responsibility for this level of frustration and give that person the chance to show that their actions will not affect their ability and right to do the job they care committed to.
Thank you all again for your love, your support, encouragement and praise. I am so grateful for all that you do! Thank you! I am here for all of you!
Working and striving together for a brighter future.
Always,
Debra
Dear All of Maricopa,
Before and during my campaign and election, I had been led to believe all kinds of horrible things were going on in the Maricopa Community College system. I knew not to believe everything I read in the paper, but one Board member was telling me how bad things were, and human nature tends to make us believe the worst. After investing time and energy listening, reading, researching and asking a lot of questions, I found that, of course, there are areas that could be improved, but that the negatives had been greatly exaggerated.
One of the first things I realized is that there are too many employee policy manuals. To be hit with reading through all of these after being elected caused me to ask why, and there just was no good answer. I had healthy discussions with the leadership of these employee groups, and each agreed to work on this issue. Now, with the hiring of an outside consultant, we have someone who has been brought in to tell you that you need to do what all of you have already willingly committed to do. Many more similar discussions and conclusions have occurred this past seven months. I thank all of you for helping me to grow and learn and for your willingness to spend time working with me to identify steps that could improve Maricopa. These experiences are what convinced me that we did not need to take money from you to hire an outside consultant to improve Maricopa.
I am disappointed that the Board cannot work together to solve the issues of Maricopa and save our District $1.14-million-plus. I was shocked that a majority of this Board would get so caught up in a witch hunt that actually costs this kind of money. I really believed the proposal would not pass once they saw the facts and what their lack of leadership was going to cost. I was wrong, but my faith and confidence in all of you is still strong! You are amazing people and I thank you for your hearts, your passion, and your hard work. I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent Maricopa on this Board. I am saddened by the agenda that now will plague our District and each of you. I know and trust that each and every one of you will be professional and handle this Board-created problem with dignity and respect. I know that it has to be painful to endure the insults to your professionalism and to not be treated with respect and appreciation.
As you go through the process of educating these people about what you do find yourselves in a question-and-answer session, please take a deep breath and remember that I know of your hard work and love for Maricopa and that I respect and appreciate you. Remember that there are a lot of students who need you to stay at the top of your performance. For those who are going to endure this difficult time under a harsh, critical microscope, PLEASE keep carefully documented records of every moment. We, as ONE MARICOPA, need to be able to put a real price tag on what this experience is costing the District. The only way to report actual costs is if each of you works with me to accomplish this. Send the information to me as quickly and regularly as you can, so that I can compile the data on a real-time basis.
I am always here for you to talk to, and I will fight for you and work for you. I commit my heart, my passion and my energy to you, One Maricopa. Jim Simpson, thank you for your encouraging words after this horrible vote last night. You are a true leader. You are right, for Maricopa’s sake we have to find a way to make something good of this bad situation. We can and will find our way through this. I trust that all of you will go through it with professionalism, dignity and class.
If you have any ideas of what I can do to help you through this process, please let me know.
Always,
Debra
To My Fellow Governing Board Members:
On Tuesday, July 28, we will be faced with a very important decision, whether to spend $1.143 million to hire Alvarez & Marsal, a crisis consulting firm, Some of you have already spoken in favor of this plan to conduct an efficiency and effectiveness study of the entire Maricopa Community College District. I am strongly opposed to it, and as our vote approaches, I’d like to share with you some information that helped form my opinion.
Over the course of my six months as a member of the Governing Board, I’ve discovered the fact that the District has many ongoing procedures to review its actions and processes. In some cases, the District contracts with outside consulting firms to provide specialized expertise. In others, it improves its processes based on the recommendations of its own reviews and assessments.
Since 2004, the District has contracted with outside consultants on 15 occasions to improve specific areas of its operations. Those areas have ranged from a review of human resources procedures to a study of best practices in the area of financial aid. You can view the complete list of outside reviews in the attached document entitled, “District Reviews and Initiatives – Contracted Services.”
As I’m sure you are aware, the District faced strong criticism 1-2 years ago after a number of negative news stories about its activities. What you may not know is that most of those stories were based on problems that were uncovered by District officials or the District’s own auditors. Many of those problems were specifically addressed in the findings of the Blue Ribbon Panel, which this Board adopted when it strengthened District procedures in 2007. You will find a summary of those findings in the second attachment, “District Reviews and Initiatives – Internal Reviews and Processes.”
I urge you to not be misled by those who claim that we need to hire this crisis consulting firm because of these stories. This knee-jerk reaction ignores the simple fact that it was the District that most often uncovered the wrongdoing and acted to prevent its recurrence.
After reviewing these two reports, I am at a loss to imagine why the District should spend $1.143 million — $68,000 a week – to do what we as a Governing Board can and should be doing. Each Board member, in January, agreed to take on an area of specialization. We agreed to lend our expertise and to act as a taxpayer watchdog in our areas and come back to the Board with our findings, recommendations and ideas for improvements.. I’m doing exactly that in the areas of public affairs and government relations, as well as meeting with employee group leaders in an effort to do my due diligence and my research. As a Board member, I’m accepting responsibility and being held to greater accountability, and I know the other Board members have committed to doing the same in their areas as well. We have yet to complete our own work and have yet to come together as a Board to make recommendations based on our own research and work.
As Board members, we have a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers to take the time to do the work we have been elected to do, not to pay a consultant more than a million dollars to do our work for us. I’m sure this project will be a four-month attempt to turn this organization on its head. It would be one thing if the District had a poor record of uncovering problems and dealing with them, but that’s not the case. As the two attached reports show, the District has been more than willing to examine its actions and quickly make appropriate changes. It would be one thing to bring a slash and burn approach to solve problems if the District were in a crisis, but there is NO crisis. There are plenty of opportunities for Board members to help the District improve. Any Board member who feels they don’t have the time to commit to this important work should resign and allow their position to be filled by someone who can make the proper commitment to the District, its students and its taxpayers.
In closing, I wish to express support for the position of the A&M representative who addressed the selection committee recently: for A & M: “If the District is not in a crisis, then you probably should not hire us, we are too expensive for you to hire.” I vote NO, for the District’s students and its taxpayers, and ask everyone to join me in rolling up our sleeves and getting to the work we were elected to do.
Always,
Debra
Why would we pay someone $1.14 million to tell those in our District how to be ahead of a “curve” when we are already recognized world wide for being ahead of that curve? Where is this money going to come from? There is only about $900k in the Board’s emergency fund. If we drain that, we are still short. What services for students do we cut so an attempt at self aggrandizing can be accomplished?
A spokesman from the organization that will be awarded a $1.14 million contract, to do the job that should be the Board’s, made a statement that a committee would be required to “push” the recommendations that are coming. This representative then acknowledged the Board President as the person who he already knew would chair this committee. How could he already know this, when none of us on the Board did? When, where, how and by whom was this position filled? I can only conclude that this conversation between the Board President and the representative of this company must have occurred prior to the selection interviews.
What experience does our Board President have in reorganization or restructuring? When was she coached, tutored or mentored in activities of this magnitude? Remember when you were young and impetuous and had ideas that now, looking back, you’re grateful someone steered you away from making mistakes that later would be horribly embarrassing? I remember one of my sons wanting to knock a wall down in our home to make his room bigger. With patience and education on our part, he came to understand the reasons for bearing walls and their importance to the integrity of our home. We need this same type of sobering process as we think about allowing impetuous decisions and, as the chosen consultant said, “embark on a radical change” that will rip through this District in just four short months. (OUCH! That kind of ripping is going to leave some scars!)
We need to be figuring out how to heal the district’s ills, not become, as a Board, the greatest ill of all.
I am waiting to hear the answer to what program we are taking the money from to finance this project. If we take the entire emergency fund to pay for this, what happens when we have a REAL emergency and we as a Board have left ourselves nowhere to go to address the emergency?
The more homework I do about all that is in place within the district or coming into place due to current research and investigations, the more I realize that either this RFP has been pushed because its advocates do not know these measures exist, despite the fact that the record shows the Board approved these Blue Ribbon and RFP projects, or else there are people who see a pot of money and can’t resist spending it. Money used to burn a hole in my children’s pockets, too — another teaching moment when handled properly.
In any case, the emergency money is there for a reason. Paying for a consultant does not qualify.
Dear Colleen,
The RFP Committee, composed of excellent individuals, has completed its charge. Of the choices of participants in the RFP, the committee recommended we hire a consultant at a cost of $1.143 million. NOW, where is the district getting the money to pay for this? Is it from the Board’s contingency fund? That is money set aside for emergencies, and this is not an emergency. There is not enough money in the fund to pay for all of this contract and besides, it would be totally irresponsible to take all of the “emergency” money and leave the District vulnerable if a real “emergency” were to arise.
The company that has been chosen said, in effect, “If you are not in a dire crisis, we are not the company you should hire…You should not pay the kind of money we charge unless you are in a crisis.” Where is the crisis?
I believe that what we really need to do is find out what efficiency evaluations are already going on within the district. We need to know how much we have paid organizations to audit, review or evaluate district programs, determine their findings and whether the findings were adopted. We need to know how many evaluations still must be completed and when that will be done. We as a Board have been elected to follow these activities and to be aware of their progress.
My first hint that the District was already engaged in the work of evaluating efficiencies and effectiveness was when in a Board meeting a Blue Ribbon Task Force recommendation was being reported for implementation. I had been told these types of efficiencies and effectiveness concerns were being ignored by the District. Dr. Campbell saw my shock and with a smile made reference to knowing there were other corrective measures going on to address issues as they come up and whenever leadership was made aware of problems needing attention.
Since then I have been looking into all the activities that the District is doing along the lines of evaluating efficiency and effectiveness, what the audit department and the independent outside auditors are engaged in and other RFP activities of this nature. I found the District has been involved in a constant effort. My findings are that much of what is driving this $1.143 million RFP consists of old news problems that the district is already working to fix. The efforts and measures that have been put in place are not being recognized or given credit for protecting the district from risks that have plagued it in the past. It is each Board member’s responsibility to do their homework, to invest time and know about these matters. We as a Board have been elected to do a job. It’s wrong to be on the Board and spend $1.143 million of taxpayer money to do work we have been elected to do and should be doing ourselves. We should not be paying $1.143 million to have someone come in and tell us as a Board what is being done in efficiencies and effectiveness when we have not engaged and taken the time to put forth the time, energy and commitment to find out what we can for ourselves. If then, there are still questions, such a project would be more focused and lot cheaper to the taxpayer.
The more homework I do as a Board member, the clearer it is to me that the District is not in a crisis. Can we improve? YES, and we are improving. What’s more, we as a Board need to learn about other ways, already paid for by taxpayers, that the District has to audit or review programs that we feel need to be reviewed. As a Board, what other avenues have we ever reviewed or are even aware of? I feel we must be responsible and avoid impetuous spending. Imagine the work that could be accomplished for students with $1.143 million. Isn’t that what the District’s business really is?
It will be easy for a candidate to successfully oppose any Board member who votes for this type of spending.
I also want all to know that even though I disagree with the concept of hiring a consultant in this manner, I recognize that thanks are due to Mike McIntier and his staff. The selection process was handled in a most professional manner. I am now in possession of a large box of documents, including email communications detailing the entire process. The fact that the process went smoothly reflects on the quality of his work, rather than a representation of skill, knowledge or ability to do so on the part of Board members who advocated for the RFP. Mike McIntier and his staff made this process, the District and the Board members involved look good and professional, even though the Board members did not have a clue how to do what was accomplished. It is another reflection of the professionalism which Maricopa employees demonstrate every day.
I read with great interest an article in the New York Times today about President Obama’s plans to infuse $12 billion into the nation’s community colleges. The President plans to fund the program through monies realized by new efficiencies and improvements to the federal financial aid program. The plan calls for $9 billion to go to programs enticing community colleges to do more to boost graduation rates and to better prepare students for real-world jobs upon graduation, with particular focus on getting people to work as we face unprecedented unemployment rates.
Money will also be provided to develop a state-of-the-art, online curriculum that could supplement course work at all community colleges.
One of the primary missions of The Maricopa Community Colleges is workforce training - and we have a strong record of successful programs that lead to meaningful jobs.
What do you think about the President’s plans? Some might say job training is great, but it does little good when there are no jobs. Others might say it’s good to train in preparation for an economic turnaround. What do you think?
How could this program augment what we do at Maricopa?
Would you be willing to help support similar programs at the Maricopa Community Colleges?
What might Maricopa do to help students with monies realized through improved efficiencies and improvements to our existing processes and programs?
As students and their parents use the summer months to consider colleges for the fall, an article in US News and World Report this week underscores the benefits of choosing a community college. And the list includes benefits the Maricopa Community Colleges proudly offer to our students:
1. Affordability
2. Convenience
3. Open access
4. Teaching quality
5. Class size
6. Support services
7. Choices
8. Diversity
9. Access to modern technology
10. Good company
We are focused on student success, and we know the Maricopa Community Colleges are a great place to begin a college education or to get new skills that will help prepare individuals for their next job - it’s great to see that the national news is recognizing what we’ve known all along!
Colleen Clark
On Friday night, May 15, 2009, happy faces characterized the rows of students ready to receive a moment of recognition for hours and hours of work. Somewhere in the vicinity of those happy faces were more gleaming faces who had an eye into the arduous nature of pursuing education and training. Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, neighbors and more lined the rows … ready to congratulate the “shining star” of the night … their determined, joyful graduate of 2009!
The sky is the limit for the grads of Maricopa!
Dr. Hesse and Dr. Pan created a memorable night for all gathered. The many hands that go into graduation and peripheral festivities deserve a sincere THANK YOU. Your work is an honor to the colleges you serve in, those you serve under and to you — your devotion and hard work are priceless.
Memory lane is a place for students, parents, families, staff, administrators and community members. There is much to be reflected on in the course of one academic year — even one academic semester! As we each reflect on our contribution to teaching and learning, in tribute to our graduates and to our current students, let us imagine the power of innovation within our 2 cores, 1) the internal core: Maricopans (students, staff, etc.) and, 2) the external core (alumni, partners, students yet to register, global connectedness, etc.).
Maricopa is part of the educational, social, and economic solutions. What opportunity. We will not respond to opportunity with idleness or fear, rather we bring our communities what they need RIGHT NOW. A Maricopa spirit of innovative steadfastness intrinsically creates wide varieties of hope for a slow economy … new ideas, new widgets, new philosophies, new patents, new ambition, new questions, new creations, new attitudes, new gratitude … thus new brilliance.
Ceremonies are reflective in nature. The reflection is appropriate. We can work for hours and hours, like our graduates, then in a moment or two, the story changes and the demand is new. Humans are blessed to know how to turn, pivot and run after that new demand. Reflection prepares us for increased strategy, courage and purpose.
Thank you for chasing after the very same things we prepare our students to chase. Like a match’s potential, the flames you ignite are absolutely colossal. BRAVO!
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
-Howard Thurman
Graduation Day
Today is the day that hard work and accomplishments are celebrated! For the 16,000 students who are graduating from the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges it marks the attainment of important educational goals that will help them transfer to a university or get meaningful work. For the faculty and employees who helped those students succeed it’s a day to reflect on the meaning of your work. Congratulations!
We look to the future with optimism and eagerness to seize opportunities — for that is what makes our nation strong, despite the unprecedented economic challenges we all are facing.
Each year when I attend one, or several, of the many graduation ceremonies at our colleges, I am invigorated by the stories of determination and perseverance. The impact our colleges have on the lives of our citizens is remarkable.
As part of this Maricopa family, we are brought together with a common purpose — to serve the educational needs of our citizens — and today we commemorate the realization of our shared commitment!
See you tonight!
Colleen Clark
Governing Board President
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