NIC: Devastating losses

It is with great sadness that I read that two senior administrators at North Idaho College are leaving.

I have had the pleasure of working with both Dr. Lita Burns and Dr. Graydon Stanley on a number of community boards and events.

Dr. Burns has been a key administrator at NIC for 20 years. In her role as Vice President of Instruction, she has been instrumental in expanding NIC’s capability to provide well-trained graduates to meet the ever growing needs of our local businesses, especially our health care providers. She has also been a consistent supporter of expanding the collaboration between the employee needs of local businesses and the workforce training programs available at NIC, and in providing opportunities for our students to receive a four-year education locally.

Dr. Stanley has been an amazing and energetic spokesperson for NIC and, as Vice President of Student Services, actively worked to meet the needs of our local students and expand the services offered at NIC, throughout his decade of service. Graydon has also been actively involved in our community and is consistently been a vocal and positive supporter of NIC and education in general.

The loss of these two seasoned, respected and admired professional educators, along with six other key staff members, is beyond tragic. Their loss is a direct result of the policies, actions and inactions of three members of the NIC Board of Trustees: Banducci, McKenzie and Barnes, who have grossly misused their positions to undermine the college and place its accreditation in jeopardy.

Our community and our students deserve much better!

LEN CROSBY

Post Falls