South’s NIC contract to end in June

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College trustees won’t renew former interim president Greg South’s contract when it ends in June.

The announcement came Wednesday night, during the monthly board meeting.

“We have communicated with Dr. South and confirmed with him that his contract will end on June 30 and will not be renewed,” board chair Mike Waggoner said. “It took a lot of work and we got it all squared away.”

It’s unclear how or when the decision not to renew South’s contract came about.

In December 2022, the board voted 3-2 to approve an 18-month employment contract for South to serve as NIC’s active president while college president Nick Swayne remained on administrative leave. Trustees Brad Corkill and Tarie Zimmerman cast the dissenting votes.

South was on the job for just 75 days before trustees complied with a court order to reinstate Swayne. The board then placed South on paid administrative leave, where he has remained ever since.

As of December 2023, the college had paid an estimated $368,250 to South. His contract contains a number of financial perks on top of his $235,000 base pay, including a $35,000 signing bonus, up to $27,000 to cover moving expenses and a $3,000 monthly housing allowance worth $36,000 per year.

For a year, community members and campus constituency groups have publicly called on the board to end South’s employment and, in doing so, bring NIC closer to alignment with requirements outlined by is accreditor.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges has urged trustees to employ only one president. In a recent report, the commission said terminating South’s contract would be a “relatively ‘easy win’ and would be a significant step in regaining the goodwill, confidence and trust of NIC constituents.”

Though some trustees told accreditors that they’ve kept South waiting in the wings to replace Swayne, the board reversed course Dec. 20 and announced they have “no intent to remove Dr. Swayne as president of North Idaho College.”

Trustees did not take action Wednesday night on the investigative report that a Kootenai County judge ordered the college to turn over to Swayne Monday.

By a 3-2 vote, the board agreed to direct legal counsel to reach out to Swayne’s attorneys to seek the most “cost effective and prudent” resolution in the case.

NIC attorney Colton Boyles indicated this may involve discussion or negotiation about attorney fees and costs to be paid by the college. First District Judge Barry McHugh ordered last week that Swayne is entitled to receive attorney fees and costs in the case.