Editorials

Editorial: Financial outcomes of consolidation an exercise in speculation

We don’t get to vote on school district consolidation Tuesday, but that has not diminished the debate about the merits of merging the Cottonwood-Oak Creek and Mingus Union districts into one.

Editorial: Cottonwood at key crossroads in search for new city manager

For the city, Cottonwood is at a philosophical crossroads as it moves forward in the search for a city manager to succeed Doug Bartosh.

Editorial: Football playoff seeding system needs another look

The league champion Mingus Marauders open their state title quest on the road against a team they’ve previously defeated and that finished third place in their league.

Editorial: Prescott-area schools out perform Verde Valley in state grading system

“Appeal” is the rallying cry among Verde Valley educators in the aftermath of the letter grades assigned their schools by the Arizona Department of Education. Throughout the Verde Valley, local schools on average received “C” grades from the Department of Education this year.

Editorial: Wisdom of taking ‘baby steps’ obvious in fire district merger

We’ve been hearing for years about the economy of scales benefits, or lack of, in merging our local school districts into a single unified operation.

Commentary: ‘Business’ of running Yavapai College sadly lacking; current model of governance ineffective

It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when the Verde Valley campus of Yavapai College was a busy, bustling campus. Two of my children attended; one while attending Mingus Union High School and the other after graduation from Mingus.

Editorial: Rarity of bond issues in Clarkdale speaks volumes about need of Prop. 445

It’s only healthy that there is back-and-forth sentiment and debate on the merits of Clarkdale’s Proposition 445, the $6 million general obligation bond designed to fund a much-needed street repair and maintenance program for the town.

Editorial: Subjective nature of school grades makes final result suspect

Indeed, many schools throughout the state successfully petitioned ADE for a re-assessment of their grade last year. Case in point: Mingus Union High School successfully petitioned last year to have its “C” grade improved to a “B.”

Editorial: We’ve had enough consolidation meetings; voters need to put this issue to bed

Upper Verde school district consolidation is much like a 24-hour television marathon of The Twilight Zone.

Cottonwood-Oak Creek should proceed with caution on consolidation talks with Mingus Union

Perhaps as early as this week, the members of the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School Board will be asked to play nice with Mingus Union over development of a “reasoned, purposeful plan” for a merger of the two school districts.

Editorial: With staggered terms now a reality, Jerome should consider direct election for mayor

Jerome has wrestled with the idea of having staggered terms for its town council members for years, and last week it became official that this is now the law of the land for the mountainside community.

Editorial: Airplane noise a fact of life if you live in Verde Village Unit 8

Some problems just never go away.

Editorial: Social media doesn’t ruin people’s lives, people do

The old saying about “guns don’t kill people, people do” has a lot in common with the use of social media today.

Editorial: Local voters stood firm against politics of hate and deceit

The political process has never been known as a showcase for humanity’s best qualities.

Editorial: Judge Mackey the clear winner in latest consolidation battle

While both sides of the school district consolidation debate found a way to spin Friday’s ruling as a victory in their favor, the real winner in this legal duel was Presiding Yavapai County Superior Court Judge David Mackey.

Editor: Hats off to those who choose to serve on Verde Valley school boards

Especially here in the Verde Valley over the past year, it’s been tough – very tough – to be a school board member.

Editorial: VACTE consolidation concerns more rhetoric than reality

The concern over the future of vocational education in the Verde Valley should consolidation take place is far more anchored in rhetoric than reality.

Editorial: Starbucks’ success lies in finding solution to access woes at 260-89A

It’s beginning to look like the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce is finally going to be able to sell its property located at the busy SR 260 and SR 89A intersection and the community will get a Starbucks coffee shop in the process.

Editorial: Goetting chooses difficult, but not impossible, path to the mayor’s office in Camp Verde

The pool of candidates for the Camp Verde mayoral race expanded by one this past week with the addition of Alex Goetting as a write-in candidate.

Letter: American labor rights are on the line and that line keeps getting thinner

During the Great Depression, fifteen million Americans were unemployed and many of the few who did have jobs were exposed to horrific working conditions.

Editorial: Marriage of consolidation also a date in divorce court

At this stage though, make no mistake about it, this betrothal is a shotgun wedding. Mingus is the reluctant groom to Cottonwood-Oak Creek’s bride. It’s you, the voters, who are holding the gun.

Commentary: Lack of transparency continues to be part of Mingus culture

For more than a year now, Mingus Union High School officials have displayed a pattern of carelessness when it comes to complying with Arizona’s open meeting and public records laws.

Editorial: Consolidation fact-finding mission in very good hands

While the Upper Verde Valley’s efforts at reaching consensus and educating the community on school district consolidation were plagued by turf protection and institutional bias, it’s refreshing to see the no-nonsense approach being employed by Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter to achieve the same goal.

Editorial: Rep. Stringer badly misses mark on ‘apology tour’

Prescott Rep. David Stringer went on the road last week to mend some fences.

Editorial: Residency requirement for town marshal comes back to haunt Camp Verde council

The common sentiment in Camp Verde right now is that the answer to what he should do about the Camp Verde town marshal vacancy is staring Town Manager Russ Martin right in the face.

The Verde Independent

Commentary: Big challenges await new Mingus Union School Board 1 day, 20 hours

Letter: Decline of Sedona pretty much true for all of Arizona 1 day, 20 hours

Letter: Thanks to all for making Trunk or Treat a huge success 1 day, 20 hours

Letter: Why is 12th Street a mess again? 1 day, 20 hours