Don't let silence speak for you

A consultant heading up the search for North Idaho College's next leader presided over two public forums earlier this week.

Several dozen campus employees showed up. Some of them spoke out. But from the community at large, there was deafening silence — except from Stan Hess, who lost his bid for a seat on the board of trustees last fall. Hess was literally the only participant in the forums from off campus.

Three main theories for the lack of public input have emerged.

First, there's the idea that because the trustees put together an impressive 22-member presidential search committee — with half the members coming from the community and half from NIC — there's a lot of confidence that the very best person for the job will be selected. The college's consultant, Pamila Fisher, has said that in her years of experience, this is the first time a presidential search committee's composition has been so equally balanced between college and community. She was highly complimentary of trustees for their foresight.

The other two theories are disturbing.

One is that the lack of public participation merely illustrates the gap between NIC and the community — a lack of participation due simply to a lack of interest. For the many good things Michael Burke did as president, one of the lasting criticisms is that he did not build enough bridges between the campus and the community. The silence, this reasoning goes, is merely the echo of apathy.

Finally, and most troublesome, is the possibility that there has been no input from the general public because there's a perception that the input won't matter. The argument is that NIC interviewed only one of six candidates for the interim president position and hired her. Unlike some similar searches, the interim candidate is also a candidate for the permanent position, which could scare off other potential candidates who think this might already be a "done deal."

Our view is that the general public still has a tremendous opportunity to weigh in on this key decision-making process, one we think is vital to the long-term growth and prosperity of both the campus and the broad community. We're encouraged by the composition of the advisory committee, and we believe they will weigh, intelligently and sincerely, comments from anyone who cares enough to share them.

We urge citizens to express the characteristics they most want to see in the next president of North Idaho College. Our wish? That the person is competent at leading a thriving campus and uniting the institution with the full range of individuals, businesses and organizations that are or should be key partners with that institution. In other words, we want a proven bridge-builder.

Send your thoughts to pressearch@nic.edu or to Kent Propst, North Idaho College, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. The deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 28, so speak up now.