Yavapai Community College

Summary

On November 29, 2024, the Yavapai Community College Governing Board adopted a policy that forbade board members from speaking to college staff about any “college or community issue” and prohibited board members from speaking with the press. The policy also barred staff members from speaking with board members about college matters outside of formal meetings. The article described the policy as restricting communication between faculty, staff, and their elected representatives and limiting free speech rights under the First Amendment and the Arizona Constitution. Staff who communicated outside formal settings could face discipline or termination.

In January 2025, Board Chair Deb McCasland sent a letter defending the board’s speech restrictions and asserting that only she, as chair, could release public statements about board actions. She stated that other members had no authority to speak on behalf of the board and that the policy delegating operational authority to the president would “never change.”

On May 10, 2025, an article reported that McCasland continued restricting the rights of elected board members. Third District Representative Toby Payne said she repeatedly refused to place his agenda requests on the board agenda despite Board Policy 308 stating such items “will” be included. The reporting described ongoing conflicts over agenda control and board procedures.

On January 11, 2026, the college introduced a “code of ethics” requiring board members to provide “visible support” for President Lisa Rhine and prohibiting board members from speaking to the press “in any way that reflects negatively on their colleagues, the president or the college.” The policy allowed only positive statements while suppressing criticism.