NIC ENROLLMENT: ‘Correlation or coincidence?’

Todd Banducci has served as a trustee for North Idaho College since 2012 and his cronies first elected in 2020. In that timeframe, the population of Kootenai County has increased 28%.

In the last decade (2011-2021), the three other community colleges in the state of Idaho have shown increased enrollment of 12%, 22% and 180%. The 180% comes from the College of Eastern Idaho; voters in Bonneville County recognized the advantage of having a community college and took on the tax burden of supporting it.

In the same timeframe, the enrollment at North Idaho College has decreased by 36%. Could it have anything to do with the disruptive churn in presidential leadership or accreditation issues linked to board actions? Is there a correlation or is it coincidence? You decide.

JOHN GOEDDE

Coeur d’Alene