An August 2 news release by Eastern Arizona College addressed the Gila County Provisional Community College District’s earlier announcement of an agreement in principle that would extend their educational services contract to June 30, 2025. In the release, EAC said the District (also known as GCC) had paid them almost $2 million in overdue payments, allowing the contract extension proposal to proceed. “Now that this debt has been met, EAC has offered to extend its stay in Gila County to allow students to participate in our academic programs,” said EAC Director of Marketing and Public Relations Kris McBride.

According to McBride, students, local leaders and legislators contacted EAC, asking if anything could be done to mitigate GCC’s decision to terminate the two colleges’ educational services contract. He said the extension proposal, drafted “even though EAC was under no obligation to do so,” was based on extending the contract by one year and on GCC making the payment. The news release added that the GCC Board will not be allowed to access confidential student and employee information or direct EAC employees’ actions, and EAC employees will not be required to take part in GCC Board meetings.

In a reply to the news release, GCC alleged that EAC had sent them an invoice that was over $500,000 higher than previous invoices and said they had asked EAC for documentation. “We look forward to getting this information on behalf of the Gila County taxpayers,” said Interim President Dr. Janice Lawhorn.