MY TURN: Thanks for saving NIC
On this week of "Thanks Giving" I am going to say THANK YOU to all those who voted to SAVE NIC. I urge all these same folks to rest up and get ready to give more of your heart and soul to keep up the fight. Our North Idaho legislators turned out in full force to broadcast their focus on cutting budgets to our public schools (already 25% underfunded by the state). They also want to cut off educational funding past high school and redirect money to ecumenical and homeschooled children, further eroding our already struggling schools. Harming many to serve few — WHY?
North Idaho legislators showed up on the taxpayers' dime to fight the Cd'A Planning and Zoning and City Council affirmative action that made the NIC campus into a protected university district. The legislators blackballed the simple act of ensuring our local campus would remain in use as an educational hub. WHY?
In addition, the notion that D.E.I. (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) needs to end in North Idaho is farcical. Another "look over there" diversion. We need to train and retain NIC and our local Grade 12 graduates for local employment. If we shut the doors of NIC, we harm all our local businesses from Hagadone to Kootenai Health, NIBCA builders to welding and autobody shops. WHY?
If these North Idaho legislators are such dedicated Republicans, then please reaffirm your commitment to "grow the (local) economy and reduce inflation" by keeping our trades here and preserving locally available education that serves the business backbones of our region. We are a burgeoning region of growth and opportunity and NI legislators want to stunt that growth through lowering standards, forcing students to leave the area at a high cost for career educations or stay and earn far less over their lifetime with limited skills.
Or perhaps the "Why" is to clear the path for folks like Mr. Redman who wants Bibles in all classrooms and a Christian-based college where D.E.I. is definitely verboten.
So let us give thanks for saving NIC this November but do not sit on your laurels or let these radical rights keep gnawing this bone they may still succeed in destroying.
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Lynn Fleming is a Coeur d'Alene resident.