Bell to receive 3 percent raise

COEUR d'ALENE - North Idaho College trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to increase college President Priscilla Bell's salary of $152,250 by 3 percent. They also decided to increase the amount the college contributes to Bell's supplemental retirement account by $3,500.

Marc Lyons, NIC's attorney, presented the recommendation to the board.

"The only financial impact would be the adjustments if the board agrees," Lyons said.

Bell has a two-year contract that is renewed annually.

Her current contract was approved by the board in June 2010, and expires at the end of June 2012. That contract did not reflect an increase in salary from the previous year. It did include a $3,500 increase in the supplemental retirement compensation.

Bell announced in May that she will retire when her contract ends in June 2012.

"I would like to publicly thank Dr. Bell for all of her hard, hard work and efforts not just this past year, but during her entire tenure," said Trustee Christie Wood. "Everyone knows she's a go-getter. Everyone knows she gives 100 percent, and we're very happy for her that she's going to go live a different life soon, but we know that we're going to work her really hard until that day."

Bell's 3 percent salary increase conforms with the compensation raise given to all college faculty, Wood said.

The salary hike will raise Bell's current salary by $4,576.50 to $156,817.50.