PLASS: Does not rhyme with class

I have been hesitant to write this letter, but I believe it is important for the citizens of Kootenai County to hear my story about the Community Library Network. Last year in July, a friend of mine posted on a popular website that she had seen Trustees Plass, Ottosen and Hanley meeting at a local coffee shop. This raised suspicion as it would violate Idaho Open Meeting Laws.

Legals for July, 8 2023

EDITORIAL: This book will not have a happy ending

Library Network is in serious trouble - and trustees don't mind a bit

EDITORIAL: Bad news gets worse for CLN patrons

Trustee Katie Blank's departure a devastating blow to all who love their local library

Library network to contract with ICRMP, Great American Insurance

Appeal letter in the works; library closures again allayed

During a third special meeting this week, Community Library Network trustees unanimously voted to contract with the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program and Great American Great American Insurance Group rather than letting the network's insurance lapse.

MY TURN: Carping critics

Has anyone else grown weary of the small group of faultfinders who attend every North Idaho College board meeting? Their repetitive diatribes and sometimes cheeky behavior are frustrating for those waiting their turn to speak. They frequently remind us that Dr. South, who has been invaluable in navigating accreditation, is still on staff. They seem unaware that it was Dr. South’s team of experts and effective action steps which quickly moved the college in the right direction last year. He also has a contract that runs through June. Regrettably, this whole ‘risk of losing’ accreditation scheme has been a big expense for the college, and completely unnecessary. You do not have to be a mystic or even a philosopher to understand what has happened and why. But you do have to use discernment to know which of the “stakeholders" are obscuring the truth.

OPINION: Pattern of deception

A large portion of what we call “intelligence” is pattern recognition. Patterns of sounds are recognized as words or music. Patterns of symbols are written language. Patterns of features are faces. Captcha asks you to recognize items that fit a pattern to prove you are human. Intelligence tests rely heavily on pattern recognition by asking you to find the next number or symbol of a set or to determine which word does not fit with others.

West Bonner trustees schedule, cancel another meeting

Despite court order, outgoing board chair signs superintendent's contract

Recently ousted West Bonner trustees Keith Rutledge and Susan Brown planned to enter the district into contractual or financial obligations just hours before their recall takes effect, which could defy a District Court ruling.

MY TURN: Reckless CLN trustee actions

Risk from actions of the board majority of the Community Library Network continue to rise. Trustees Ottosen, Plass and Hanley are adding liability and eroding CLN’s safeguards; they are actively harming the library network. In just six months they’ve violated agreements, cut funding while increasing expenses, disregarded legal advice, and tried to demoralize staff.

NIC: What trustees should do

“NIC trustees examine governance problems,” April 13, page A1. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa, here? Darn unlikely to be volunteered, but until it’s admitted, accreditation could be illusive.

'There's a lot of risk'

Community Library Network headed toward lapse of insurance coverage

The Community Library Network may not have liability insurance coverage as early as Sunday. Trustees considered their options during a meeting Wednesday, including the possibility of a 24-hour emergency notice to close all libraries in the district if insurance is not in place by the time the library network’s existing policy through the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program expires at midnight Saturday.

OPINION: No more educational chaos, please

Chaos might be fun for a while, but North Idaho has had enough. As Kootenai County kids go back to school, we are all ready for normalcy, consistency, and routine. Recent events at both North Idaho College and the West Bonner School District teach us valuable lessons about how fed up people are with bad governance and administrative chaos.

Special meeting goes nowhere

CLN board at odds over presence of attorney, open meeting law

A special Thursday meeting with a focus on Idaho's open meeting law didn't go as planned when the Community Library Network's legal counsel was absent from the meeting.

MY TURN: Library budget and property taxes

Library Trustee Hanley asked the question, “What is the core mission of the CLN?” Apparently, he hasn’t found the time to visit the Community Library Network’s website or look at the top of the numerous agendas for the regular and special meetings they’ve had over the last month. The mission is published prominently in both places. The mission of the CLN is to "empower discovery." The bigger question is why would someone who doesn’t know the purpose or the mission of an institution run for office to lead that institution?

'We're so sorry:' Borah Elementary to close

Coeur d'Alene trustees vote to repurpose school

Borah Elementary School's days are numbered. Tears were wiped from faces and sniffles could be heard Monday evening as trustees of the Coeur d'Alene School District unanimously voted to accept a recommendation to repurpose the school as a way to save the district money as it addresses an expected $6 million shortfall for fiscal year 2025. "We're heartbroken, obviously," fifth grade teacher Teresa Armstrong, who is in her 16th year at Borah, said after the meeting.

OPINION: The value of training

When I became a school trustee in Cassia County in 2001, I knew I wanted to serve my community by being part of important educational decisions.

EDITORIAL: The pill that could preserve your hospital

Trustees will be qualified, not radicalized

Legals for October, 13 2023

BANDUCCI: ‘An immature person’

A Jan. 26 Coeur d’Alene Press article again exposed Todd Banducci as an immature person. He recently accused a fellow NIC trustee of being asinine, even calling her a “jackass.” He went on to call other trustees “lunatics” just because he couldn’t get his way. Is this guy 12 years old?

DAMAGE: It follows elected ‘leaders’

The three Stooges (Trustees Ottosen, Hanley and Plass) who are piloting the Clown Car known as the Community Library Network continue their erratic drive to demolish our wonderful local library system.