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Pinal County Supervisors Pete Rios and Cheryl Chase attended the CAC meeting to speak about the importance of keeping the campus open.
It is well known that in small towns and organizations everyone must wear multiple hats, and if you are not wearing at least two or three then you must not be busy enough.
Last week business owners, elected officials students, faculty, Copper Corridor residents filled the cafeteria at the CAC Aravaipa Campus to share with the board during call to the public how important the Aravaipa campus is to them and its benefit to the community. Many of those speaking wear multiple roles in their community from teachers and elected officials, business owners and non-profit board members.
It was a packed house last week at the CAC Board meeting.
The board heard over 50 comments from these community members in the call to the public, some of them were encouraging the board to approve a two percent pay increase for the staff and a majority of the comments were personal stories and requests that the board do everything in their power to keep the Aravaipa Campus open.
There were a few residents who explained that they are not against education but they are not in favor of additional tax increases and called for the board to be more fiscally conservative.
Superior resident Ruben Castro speaks to CAC Governing Board members about the importance of keeping the Aravaipa Campus open.
Board President Gladys Christiansen thanked everyone for their comments and stated that they would not close the campus for as long as they can keep it open. Since late 2015 there have been major rumblings and suggestions made to the Central Arizona College Governing Board that the Aravaipa Campus should be closed in order to save money and avoid any further property tax increases to the tax payers of Pinal County. Investments, they were told, should be concentrated in the populated areas of the county. The board has been hearing from many anti tax groups who have become very vocal at board meetings.
Town of Kearny Mayor Sam Hosler spoke to CAC Governing Board members about the importance of keeping the Aravaipa Campus open.
Following the two-hour call to the public session, the board went into executive (secret) session. After the executive session the board voted unanimously to provide staff with a two percent pay increase and not to increase the cost of the employee benefits and not to increase taxes to accommodate this increase.
The board also received a report on financial expenditures and viewed a presentation by CAC Aravaipa student Edward Aguirre, who showcased many student success stories from the CAC Aravaipa Campus.
Kearny resident Gerry Kaufhold speaks to CAC Governing Board members about the importance of keeping the Aravaipa Campus open.
Mila Besich is a resident of Superior with two children. She volunteers for many local organizations. She is an experienced fundraiser and event planner for Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition. She covers some of the area town councils and schools.
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