BOARD POLICY 310 At the November 19, 2024 lame duck college board meeting the board instituted a new board policy 310. Board policy 310 prohibits faculty or staff from communicating with Board members in any way regarding college matters and also prohibits Board members from speaking with faculty or staff. “Under no circumstances should an individual Board member direct or contact by any means, a staff member concerning a college or community issue...” It was made clear by the college president that if the facility or staff speaks to any board member they will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. I am not an attorney but in my opinion this policy appears to be unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment which states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” I believe as their elected government official everyone, regardless of employment, has to right to contact me regarding ANY issue they should choose. Board Policy 310 also greatly restricts how Board members are allowed to speak to the press. “Board members do not speak to the press in any way that reflects negatively on their colleagues or the college.” I answer to my constituents, the people who elected me, and not to the College President or the College Board. I will keep this web site updated to reflect how the Board responds and votes on these types of issues. See the attached link, Red Rock Newspaper column regarding board policy 310: https://www.redrocknews.com/2024/11/29/yavapai-community-college-tries-to-silence-free-speech-of-its-faculty-and-governing-board/ Here’s how the board voted on policy 310: Deb McCasland - YES, Ray Sigafoos - YES, Chris Kuknyo - YES, Steve Bracety - YES, Toby Payne - NO. IF ANYONE WISHES TO CONTACT ME IN CONFIDENCE REGARDING ANY COLLEGE ISSUE, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT: BILL@VOTE4BILL.COM

The views expressed on this page are my own and are provided in my capacity as an individual member of the Yavapai College Governing Board to support open communication with the community. They do not represent the official position of the Board or the College. Board actions and decisions occur only through the formal public meeting process.

BOARD MEETING 11-19-2024

BOARD POLICY 310

At the November 19, 2024 lame duck college board meeting the board instituted a new board policy 310.

Board policy 310 prohibits faculty or staff from communicating with Board members in any way regarding college matters and also prohibits Board members from speaking with faculty or staff. “Under no circumstances should an individual Board member direct or contact by any means, a staff member concerning a college or community issue...” It was made clear by the college president that if the facility or staff speaks to any board member they will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

I am not an attorney but in my opinion this policy appears to be unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment which states:

“Congress shall make no law respecting anestablishment of religion, or prohibiting thefree exercisethereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”

I believe as their elected government official everyone, regardless of employment, has to right to contact me regarding ANY issue they should choose.

Board Policy 310 also greatly restricts how Board members are allowed to speak to the press. “Board members do not speak to the press in any way that reflects negatively on their colleagues or the college.”

I answer to my constituents, the people who elected me, and not to the College President or the College Board. I will keep this web site updated to reflect how the Board responds and votes on these types of issues.

See the attached link, Red Rock Newspaper column regarding board policy 310: https://www.redrocknews.com/2024/11/29/yavapai-community-college-tries-to-silence-free-speech-of-its-faculty-and-governing-board/

Here’s how the board voted on policy 310:

Deb McCasland - YES, Ray Sigafoos - YES, Chris Kuknyo - YES,

Steve Bracety - YES, Toby Payne - NO.

IF ANYONE WISHES TO CONTACT ME IN CONFIDENCE REGARDING ANY COLLEGE ISSUE, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT: BILL@VOTE4BILL.COM