Yavapai Community College Shutters Sedona Culinary School, Sparking Community Discussion

Yavapai Community College has announced the closure of its culinary school at the Sedona Center, effective immediately. The decision, confirmed on April 28 through internal communication, involves relocating the culinary program to the Prescott campus for the upcoming fall semester.

According to the announcement, recreational cooking classes at the Sedona Center will also cease. For any inquiries regarding this transition, the college has directed the public to contact John Morgan, the career and technical educational dean, and Irina Del Genio, the Clarkdale campus dean.

As of May 7, no public announcement appeared on the YCC website or the college’s social media channels regarding this closure. Furthermore, the Sedona School of Culinary’s website was inactive, and its Facebook page had not been updated since October.

YCC Governing Board member Toby Payne, representing District 3, expressed disappointment over the lack of prior communication. “I learned of this closure through constituents and the press release,” he stated, adding that discussions about the future of the Sedona Center have not occurred. “My understanding is that $5 million of taxpayer money was invested in developing the culinary kitchens at this facility,” he said.

Fellow board member Bill Kiel from District 1 echoed this sentiment, indicating he, too, had not received prior notice. “I don’t recall that being on any agenda,” he remarked. “There seems to be an imbalance in funding between campuses.”

In response to inquiries about the closure, Morgan did not comment, nor did he provide enrollment figures from previous years. However, YCC Associate Vice President Tyler Rumsey noted via email on May 14 that enrollment had been low. “A culinary certification does not lead to a living wage,” he explained. He mentioned that while the culinary program offered 105 classes over two years, only 20 credit students were enrolled in FY25.

The Sedona Center, established in 2000, was part of the Sedona Cultural Park development. Initially home to the Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking, it underwent various program shifts after the film school relocated in 2011. After attempts to sell the center faced public opposition, YCC launched its own Sedona Film School, which ultimately closed in 2014. The culinary program was introduced in 2017, achieving full enrollment in its first semester.

Despite the closure, Rumsey assured that YCC is not considering selling the Sedona Center and that future programs better suited to Sedona’s cultural environment will be introduced.