02/18/2016
CWU/IASCO FIASCO by Ron Mitchell
It is interesting that the Assistant Attorney General who advised the Department of Corrections that they did not have to fix a software glitch that caused hundreds of inmates to be released prior to the end of their sentences has stepped down. These people may be attorneys, but that doesn't mean they are always right. Alan Smith, the Assistant Attorney General, who advised CWU they did not have to rebid a contract when the contractor defaulted made a similar error, and in my opinion, his negligence may eventually mean an end to the CWU flight program.
The latest in this continuing saga is that CWU is requesting 3.5 million dollars in "emergency" funding from the legislature for classroom expansion. This is the first phase, and they have stated they will come back during the regular budget process in 2017 to ask for funding to build a hangar and other infrastructure. In the 33 years I contracted with CWU, it was my responsibility to provide office, hangar, classroom, schedulers and dispatchers, aircraft and ramp space required to meet the needs of the student load. This was also a requirement of anyone bidding the most recent contract, yet someone decided when the contractor defaulted that CWU (read taxpayers) could provide all of these things except the airplanes. Creating an infrastructure that private business, with assistance from Kittitas County provided previously, represents a major shift in policy, and an unnecessary drain on taxpayers. Evidently the "emergency" exists because the CWU aviation program is growing exponentially.
Fact: Although CWU claimed to have 125 flight students as of fall quarter 2014, only 25 finished the required training by August 31, 2015, and CWU (read taxpayers) had to pick up the lodging expenses for those living in the dorms. 25! How long do you think I would have been allowed to continue with a 20% completion rate? The "emergency" exists because CWU with help from Mr. Thompson in contracting, and Mr. Smith so badly botched the process in obtaining a new flight training provider. The CWU Provost, Dean, Aviation Chair, as well as IFT's CEO, CFO, Chief Flight Instructor, and Director of Training have all been replaced. That leaves only President Gaudino, along with Mr. Smith and Mr. Thompson with their fingerprints on this debacle.
CWU administrators have repeatedly said that the new contractor represents a 25% cost savings to the students. Fact: The 20% who finished paid about 7% less than the previous contractor despite flying older less sophisticated airplanes, and CWU paying for all the infrastructure and personnel detailed earlier. The latest is the contractor, despite failing to complete the required training is asking for price increases of 10% to 40% for the 2016/2017 academic year, despite their cost per hour to operate their aircraft down almost 5% due to lowered fuel costs. The new Aviation Department Chair, despite having zero experience in flight training has said that a 10% increase is "industry standard." Midstate Aviation did not raise rates over the last three years of our contract, but a failed contractor raising rates is "industry standard?" A 10% increase per year would equate to 46% over the four years of a student's training. Ridiculous!
I am tired of the dishonesty. I am fed up with the lack of transparency. I am appalled by CWU and their contractor’s lack of planning and their attempt to throw taxpayer money at the problem. I am OUTRAGED that our tax dollars are being spent subsidizing a California corporation that is owned by a Chinese national. Please contact your legislators and urge them to vote no on CWU's supplemental budget request for 3.5 million dollars. If you wish, cut and paste this post to help educate them on how CWU has failed miserably in its duty to do due diligence in contracting.
