The February 16th post attempted to summarize AHS options for the empty mineral museum building as reported in the referenced AHS Board minutes. However, they do not match the options discussed by the senators in the committee hearing on SB1200 (see prior post). Those senators had reviewed the plans that the AHS and the DOA submitted to the JLBC.
According to these senators, the options included office space ($2.5 million), a modern museum ($2.1 million), sale of the building, and leave as is (empty). The sale of the building was one of four options instead of a reception and event center, and the recommended option was to leave as is (empty) rather than a reception center.
The senators appeared annoyed by the AHS recommendation to leave the building empty rather than allowing children to have their mineral museum and K-12 education programs back.
Having failed to put the building to any alternate use for nearly four years now, why is the AHS opposed to the return of the K-12 science education programs?
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Your last question hits the nail on the head!! AHS will probably start their whining binge and claim that the two bills will destroy their agency. Actually, getting an independent board can only help them recover from a series of unacceptable audits, and they will be treated like all other state agencies. Reopening the Mining and Mineral Museum will simply get AHS in compliance with their own statutes, which they violated when they unnecessarily closed the MMM and cleaned out the building to keep the "spoiles of war". Their choice to let the building remain empty is petty. They are willing to deny students the return of the MMM under the scientific AGS because they are unable to put it back together themselves. AHS lacks the scientific expertise
ReplyDeleteand relationships with the rock and mineral groups that supported the top-rated MMM. The sad truth is that AHS personnel were present when the statutes were
developed--they knew!! It doesn't say much for their "expertise in museum management" to fail on such a
basic concept--abide by your and AZ statues.
Rumor in Tucson has it that some AHS personnel and board members are going to protest the two bills passed unanimously in committee in the senate. During the hearings AHS did not protest either bill, although they had the opportunity. Are there two factions in AHS? Who's on first? In looking at their proposals for government funded use of the empty building, we simply don't need them--they're a pathetic
ReplyDeleteattempt to keep the students from the return of a much-used science museum. AHS needs to explain why they abruptly closed the MMM when they failed to raise enough money to even start on the grandiose AZ
Experience Museum. This agency thinks they can fail audits, destroy a historical science museum for our centennial, and the director, who is one of the highest paid persons in our state government, never has to answer. It's time everyone rallies around our students and reopens the Mining and Mineral Museum for them.
The August 5, 2011 blog post reviewed the exorbitant salaries the AHS pays with state money.
DeleteI just checked the Aug.5 blog post--holy fat cats!! The Tuson Sentinel reported that Director Woosley was paid $120,000 a year and Chief Administrator Ponder was paid $72,000 a year in 2011. What pray tell do they earn now? For all that money we can't even get an answer to the big question: WHY
Deletedid you close the top-rate historical MMM for our centennial when we all know you never had the $ to get the unneeded Experience Museum???
This blog is really getting to the crux of what's wrong with AHS and why big changes are on the way whether they like them or not. The question is whether or not AHS can admit that they are not performing well and cease digging the hole they are in deeper. Hopefully they realize that the antics of holding up closure of the last legislative session over wanting a 10-year approval, despite a poor Sunset Review has backfired. Now AHS is under close audit scrutiny and will be answering multiple exceptions and be subjected to another audit in 18 months. AHS didn't really win, but the episode compromised the value of the Sunset Review process for other agencies. This is not putting your best foot forward. It takes integrity to admit failures.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the poor Sunset Review recommended that AHS needed to be like other state agencies and have a board appointed by the Governor and a director who serves at the pleasure of the Governor. AHS needs to accept it and work toward improved accountability.
The Sunset audit did not address the issue of the AHS's closure of the Mining and Mineral Museum in violation of their own statutes. Another problem for AHS, because I have learned that the auditor had information and neglected to address the issue. Those wanting the museum are waiting in the wings to restore it under the respected AZ Geological Survery with a corrective bill. AHS can only harm themselves again if they try to block thousands of students from getting a beloved museum back. It will be best to co-operate before your new board has to deal with the mess, especially since four years later the building is still empty under your control. Presenting plans for the future that will cost the state much money to get something we don't really need is not very wise, unless AHS has a great fund-raising track-record. They don't. Those who want the Mining and Mineral Museum restored have gained a chance to restore it and to serve students again. They certainly are in good position to push forward now. Watching this drama unfold has been both alarming and fascinating. We may actually have an encouraging finale--a stronger and accountable AHS and the return of the Mining and Mineral Museum
This will only occur if we all contact our representatives and tell them to vote yes on SB1200.
DeleteLet's hope that the ne board is made up of history professionals and people with excellent contacts in their communities as well as NOT being friends of current board.
ReplyDeleteGood point--the members will be selected by the Gov's staff, and should be a cross-section of history, business, community. Some AHS board members may be included. The new president testified at the hearing and I understand that he understood that AHS had to change and was willing to support this. They are going to be under serious audit control for several years as the committee revealed that there were 60+ audit issues that needed to be answered. Trying to tell the legislature that they are being picked on will no longer work. In effect, AHS no longer has the 10-year approval they never deserved!!
Delete"AHS Board member may be included"? Which ones would that be. The ones who never raised any money or the ones who let Woosley destroy the Mineral Museum? Or maybe the ones who had no clue what was going on and let Woosley get involved with the Rio Nuevo Boondoggle.
ReplyDeleteThe Board members who would be involved with the new Governor appointed board had better be good. Are there any on that board who fits the mold?
You're right--the AHS Boards have been rubber stamps for the director and chief adm. officer, rather than the leaders. That,or course, got them into the mess they're now in. The new board will have a mandate to bring about accountability and credibility. Realistically, there probably will be some AHS board members on it, but hopefully not many. Those who are put on need to view it as an in-service on how to run an agency! I hope they get at least three CPA's on it as AHS gets 3million plus of our taxpayer money each year.
DeleteNone of them deserve to be on the "Governors Board". That's why they call it the Governors Board. Let them have lunches and socials on their own time. They never did anything when they "ran" the place. They never even asked any questions!! Like "Dr. Woosley...how are we going to raise $15,000,000 for a Centennial Museum?"
DeleteOh yeah--more questions the board forgot to ask: Dr. Woosley, why did AHS slam the door on students when we did'nt even have enough money to pay your expensive buddy Gallagher? Dr. Woosley, why did you close a top rated and historic science museum for our centennial? Dr. Woosley, why should AHS not give the building back to the kids--we've let it sit empty for four years? Dr. Woosley, what is your "upscale" museum plan? Does anyone want or need it, besides AHS?
DeleteWell heck why stop there...The Board never wondered what the "Arizona Experience Museum" was supposed to be...or the "5-C's Museum. (Guess they heard about that topic--Cattle, Climate etc) Not very exciting.
DeleteThen the Woosley/Ponder Leadership Team wanted to pawn it off to the "48 Womaen" or something like that. They were too smart to pick that up off the ground.
In any level of a well led board would more than one or two AHS Board members be invited to serve. And the Governor should check their backgrounds to see what AHS influences are in their background.
This is your chance Gov. Ducey.
This is the board who hired Dr. Ann Woosley. Better yet, she too was a board member.
DeleteI would hope that the new board appointed by the Governor would look for proven museum director with a lot of experience. Not only in running active museums but a good track record in fund raising and public relations.
If the new board does not choose the director then maybe the Governor does?
Time for a change.