Three AWC District Governing Board members up for potential recall

CBS 13’s April Hettinger addresses the allegations against employee morale

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A former employee claims that the Arizona Western College (AWC) District Governing Board is not proactive in addressing employee concerns.

Former Vice President of Technology, Robert Walker, filed the petition for recall on Friday, May 21. The recall includes Dennis Booth of District 3, Olivia Zepeda of District 4, and Maria Chavoya of District 5.

"The District Governing Board has been made aware that employees are discouraged by the college president from speaking to Board members directly and that those who go “off script” during a Board meeting are subject to discipline or threatened with loss of employment," Walker claims.

Walker claims Dr. Daniel Corr, president of AWC, will put employee's jobs in jeopardy if they challenge any instruction and that the elected board isn't doing enough to protect the employees.

"I've worked for the college for the past two years, and I started voicing an opinion probably last August and asking why we're doing certain things and then being silenced. It's the first time in a 33-year career and 22 years in higher education that I have been silenced," Walker stated.

He says his silence turned into removal from his position without notice for questioning issues that were being brushed under the rug by the president and the governing board.

"I was never told I wasn't returning. He has yet to contact me, but he did alert the following Monday my entire IT team that I wouldn't be coming back and that I had resigned."

But he did not resign, according to Walker himself.

The board members can speak to the public and defend themselves, but AWC is not allowed to participate. The college released a statement saying in part:

The college cannot participate in any election- or recall-related activity, and the employees of Arizona Western College serve at the pleasure of the voters of Yuma and La Paz Counties, driven by a shared mission of transforming lives through education and partnerships to create thriving communities. 

Arizona Western College

They will need roughly 3,500 signatures in 120 days to hold a special election.

Walker plans to run for the District Governing Board should the county get enough signatures to hold a special election.