COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – During the North Idaho College (NIC) Board of Trustee business meeting Wednesday evening, Kathleen Miller-Green took her time at the podium to once again criticize the trustees. Miller-Green is the faculty’s newest representative to the board. While delivering her comments, Miller-Green did not express appreciation for the 8% salary increase the board granted with their approval of the FY2024 budget. Nor did she acknowledge the tenure recently bestowed by the board on 13 of the college’s faculty. The faculty’s obstinate attitude stood out like a sore thumb against the backdrop of a cohesive and unified Board, President, Senate, and Staff focused on student advancement and success. There was an uncomfortable silence when Miller-Green finished her remarks. She received no comments or questions from the Trustees or President Swayne and no applause from those in attendance.
The public at large, regardless of what name they checked at the ballot box, are growing weary of the endless negative criticism from faculty during trustee business meetings.
Greg, a diesel mechanic and father of four from Post Falls, who asked for his surname to remain anonymous, shared his perspective. “It is a shame to see NIC employees behave like this. I would be humbled and grateful to receive an 8% pay increase.” A 30-year resident, who attended NIC in 2002 and 2007, Greg expressed a desire to see NIC return their focus to blue collar trades. “I would really like to see NIC get back to the meat and potatoes of focusing on curriculum and courses that better benefit this community.”
During the meeting, two noteworthy updates were given. First, Ken Burke, a consultant from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), briefed the public on progress made during several board training sessions. Burke commended the Board for its participation and commitment to best practices. He stated additional board training sessions with ACCT consultants are scheduled for September, October, and November.
Second, Swayne updated the board on the status of mandatory vaccination requirements, which Chair Greg McKenzie had wanted addressed for responsiveness to the community’s concerns. Swayne stated all Providence Healthcare facilities, which include Sacred Heart, Holy Family and St. Luke’s Rehab, changed their policies and have lifted requirements for Covid-19 vaccinations. Additionally, NIC was able to develop a process for students to obtain vaccine exemptions for coursework which requires in-person clinicals with North Idaho Advanced Care Hospital and Rehabilitation Hospital Northwest, both located in Post Falls. There was no mention of Kootenai Health, where many NIC nursing students participate in clinicals. The Veterans Administration still has Covid-19 vaccine mandates and does not have a process for students to obtain exceptions.
Several matters were quickly handled as the trustees proceeded. An update for board policy covering responsibilities, duties and standards of good practice passed 4-0. The trustees unanimously passed a resolution on accreditation which acknowledged receipt of the July 7, 2023, letter from NWCCU and resolved to address contents to maintain accreditation. The board voted 4-0 to add a public meeting next week to discuss several board policy revisions and unanimously approved the president’s goals. Chair McKenzie called the goals ambitious and noted the President and Board hold mutual values for student success and achieving best practices. “Rooting for your success,” McKenzie said to Swayne before moving on to a discussion about a proposed $12 million project funded by the State Board of Education that would build an Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC) on property already owned by NIC.
The lengthy meeting concluded with the board’s 3-2 decision to hire Boyles Law to replace Art Macomber as general counsel for NIC. Kelly Drew remains the attorney of record for the active lawsuit against NIC which was brought by Mike Gridley in December 2022. Last week, Judge Pittman dismissed most of Gridley’s claims, including the most outrageous allegations against McKenzie, Banducci, Waggoner, South, and Macomber.
The entire memorandum issued by the court on August 17 can be viewed here.
