MY TURN: An open letter to the community

I’m proud to have served North Idaho College these last six months as I believe it was my civic duty to work on issues affecting our community college. It also included challenges that I believe were unnecessarily detrimental. It is important to set the record straight regarding the slanderous disinformation swirling around North Idaho College.

Initially, Trustee Todd Banducci and I agreed not to disparage one another but the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ lasted about 30 minutes by his choice. Trustee Banducci will disagree with my perspective because he only spews personal pettiness. He chooses to mislead but facts are facts.

Many in the community have been criticized for asking the Northwest Council on Colleges and Universities to review North Idaho College. It is unfair and the accusations are baseless according to NWCCU. When you witness a bad actor setting fire to your local school, is it not your duty to tell someone?

Regarding accreditation, Banducci and Greg McKenzie misled supporters and their endorsed candidates by denying Banducci’s NIC board chairmanship was specifically mentioned 14 times in the accreditation report as a problem.

Going forward, NIC is required to “adhere to policies pertaining to expectations, professional conduct and ethics …. Lack of demonstrable evidence of progress to address the issues raised above could result in a sanction of Probation or Show Cause.”

Certainly, the actions of Trustees McKenzie and Banducci during meetings do not illustrate compliance. NIC is required to submit video after every board meeting. We should be acting as a board, not a back-alley gang that uses profanity or is oppositionally defiant at every turn. This is a very real concern.

Accreditation has been marginalized in some crazy social media circles but it is important. Federal financial aid, scholarships, dual credit dollars and workforce training certifications require accreditation. Credits cannot transfer without accreditation. Graduates will have a harder time getting hired. Effectively, without accreditation, why would a student enroll at NIC?

Declining enrollment is an issue. NIC enrollment was down while all the other community colleges in the state increased. Our new president has a plan to address it. Dr. Nick Swayne needs support from board members working with him, not planning his firing by this December.

Before I arrived, an interim president was hired with little experience in college leadership. From my observations, I believe Dr. Mike Sebaaly’s career would have been better served had he remained a coach. It was a disservice to the college and to Dr. Sebaaly to place him in a position he was unprepared for. To use your words, Todd, that one is on you.

Idaho Statute clearly outlines how community college trustee positions are filled. Trustees Banducci and McKenzie filed an emergency lawsuit to block Idaho and the college from moving forward. Their request for a temporary restraining order was rightfully denied. There was no basis to their claim; no basis in the law. They tried to do this behind closed doors but failed.

Regarding the issue of insurance, NIC was insured by the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program, an in-state self-insurance program that is positive for Idaho. After Banducci consulted with ICRMP, he went against their advice, despite the warnings. He has also shared private information publicly. His decisions come with a high cost to the public and the institution. The ICRMP premium of $320,000 annually has been eclipsed at over $1 million.

Here’s the truth: insurance companies declined coverage when they learned how risky Banducci’s leadership really is. NIC’s taxpayers and students will pay ‘drunk driver premiums’ just to keep moving down the road simply because Trustee Banducci was reckless behind the wheel of the college.

We've been working hard to fix the messes created. Banducci should stop misleading the public. Again, the issue of insurance isn’t a choice. Banducci’s documented behavior is a big part of the problem.

Taxpayers funded a trip to a Government Leadership Institute Conference in Philadelphia for Trustee McKenzie. He gave public promises to work collaboratively. His actions since have shown anything but leadership. College meetings include uncontrolled outbursts and the use of profanity. Taxpayers are short-changed when trustees choose childish grievance over trustworthy governance.

I continually hear that an alleged assault by Trustee Banducci is a lie. This overlooks a long history of documented disturbing patterns. Trustee Banducci is prohibited from attending Foundation activities as a result of his actions and based on a voluntary agreement with the victim. We don’t know all the details but we now know enough. We also know that it wasn’t the only incident.

Chairman Wold and Trustee Broschet, thank you for your service to this institution. We have made inroads where North Idaho College wants to be in the future. In the spirit of the wonderful artwork displayed in the Molstead Library by NIC artist, Joe Jonas, I believe we have honored yesterday’s vision and done our best to preserve tomorrow’s local vision. We have hired a good person in President Swayne and his work in the short time he has been here is impressive. To the students, faculty and staff, I ask you to keep up your good work.

John Goedde is vice chair of the North Idaho College Board of Trustees.