NIC free speech policy approved unanimously

COEUR d'ALENE - A tuition hike, and a new free speech policy, were approved Wednesday by North Idaho College's board of trustees.

The decisions were made during the trustees' regular monthly meeting.

The new "Time, Place and Manner" policy was unanimously approved by the five-member board. It gives NIC's administration the authority to control where and when picketing, leafleting, speech-making, and other types of "free speech activities" take place on campus.

The lack of such a policy presented challenges when picketers from the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church visited NIC last fall. The group protested the college theater department's performance of "The Laramie Project," a play about the 1998 killing in Laramie, Wyo. of Matthew Shepard - a murder motivated by homophobia that gained widespread national attention.

"We had to allow a very confrontational group to come right into the heart of this campus," said Trustee Christie Wood.

Trustee Ken Howard, a longtime Coeur d'Alene attorney, encouraged the administration to remain in touch with other colleges and universities with similar policies, and to consider refining the new policy, if necessary, to avoid possible litigation in the future.

Board members also heard a first reading of the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, and decided to give early approval to a 4 percent tuition increase that is built into the general fund budget that has not yet been approved. Board members will take action on the proposed $40.7 million budget when they meet again in May for a second reading.

Ken Howard, the board's newest trustee, was the only member of the five-member board to oppose approval of the tuition hike.

"I like the idea of having two readings. That leaves time for public comment," Howard told The Press. "By passing it, you eliminate that opportunity."

Next year, the tuition cost per semester for a full-time student will be $1,382, which reflects a $53 increase.

NIC's proposed operating budget for the next year is $3 million more than the current year's budget. It also includes a 2 percent property tax increase, and a 2 percent across-the-board salary hike for full-time staff and faculty.

Additional revenue from tuition and local property taxes is needed, NIC budget planners say, to cover rising expenses due to increased enrollment while support from the state has decreased.

Trustee Ron Vieselmeyer put forth a motion that would have directed campus administrators to create a budget with a 1.5 percent property tax increase, rather than the 2 percent increase already built into the proposed budget.

The 2 percent increase is expected to cost the owner of a $200,000 home, after the homeowner's exemption is applied, $2.91 per year.

Vieselmeyer said he knows the amount saved by taxpayers would not be much.

" But there are 43 other taxing districts with their hands out," Vieselmeyer said. "I think we have to consider the property owners."

Wood said taxpayers would save less than $1 per year if a 1.5 percent increase is applied.

"I don't know if that's enough of an impact to ask the administration for a whole new budget," Wood said.

Vieselmeyer's motion was struck down by a vote of 3-2. Ken Howard voted with Vieselmeyer in favor of considering the lower amount tax increase.

Trustees Judy Meyer, Wood, and board chair Mic Armon voted against the motion.

An item previously listed as a lower level priority, and excluded from the budget, was added back in.

Wood made a motion requesting that a $90,000 line item to pay for video equipment to tape and broadcast college board meetings be returned to the budget for consideration.

"The community would really appreciate the opportunity to view our meetings," Wood said.

Vieselmeyer said he thought there were higher priority items that should be considered before the video equipment.

"I appreciate that there is a need for transparency...but our mission is to take care of the students first and foremost," Armon said. "Broadcasting our meetings is not going to help a student."

The motion passed with a 3-2 vote. Howard and Vieselmeyer cast the opposing votes.

The camera equipment will be considered again at the second reading of the budget during the trustees' next monthly meeting on May 25.