Communiversity proposal moves forward in region

SANDPOINT — A local, larger institute of learning that has been up in the air could be grounded soon.

Although the concept of a Bonner County Communiversity has until now been relegated to the discussion table, it could soon meet its goal of connecting area residents with higher learning.

The Bonner County Communiversity recently signed a working agreement with its founding institution in Gainesville, Georgia, and members have applied for a grant as part of the federal stimulus program.

“We signed a declaration of interdependence,” said Jim Zuberbuhler, a local financial advisor who is part of a group of Panhandle residents who share a vision of bringing university learning to Sandpoint.

Members of the group, which includes representatives from North Idaho College, University of Idaho and Lewis and Clark State College, as well as local educators, counselors and members of a local economic development committee, hope to bring college learning from several institutions together under one roof.

Although NIC already has a presence in the Bonner Mall, Jay Lee, vice president of instruction, said the college is always looking for feasible ways to provide education.

“We’re always mindful of the cost efficiency of those classes we offer,” Lee said.

In recent months, classes that were canceled have seen a resurgence of students.

“If anything, we’re looking to expand rather than cancel classes,” he said.

Part of the communiversity concept is to direct potential students to educational opportunities in their area.

“We want to create a one-stop place to go for educational opportunities,” Zuberbuhler said. “Those are spread across the landscape here.”

In addition, the group hopes to eventually provide students the opportunity to get a four-year degree in Sandpoint. It applied for a $1.1 million federal grant that, if awarded, would help finish the Sandpoint Charter School’s new high school complex, providing classroom space and a physical location for the communiversity.

Alan Millar, principal of the charter school is among communiversity members who helped write the grant that would bring the institute of higher learning under the same roof as the new charter high school, which will celebrate its grand opening next month.

The communiversity concept, said Millar, melds well with the educational model of  his school where students can work on college courses while in high school.

“It’s a great fit for our high school students,” he said. “It would help us finish the building and pay for the foundation of the communiversity.”

If the Bonner County Communiversity is awarded the $1.1 million — part of a $650 million federal stimulus package — the money would also pay for instructors for three years, he said.

“It would be a one-stop shop for higher education in town,” Millar said.

The communiversity is one of four entities in Idaho and 2,000 nationwide applying for the stimulus money, he said.

The award announcement will be made in July.

The grant money would provide a sound foundation, Zuberbuhler said, but the communiversity concept will continue to be developed in Bonner County whether or not it receives the funds.

“We will be able to start some pieces of this with, or without the grant,” he said.

Sandpoint Charter is at the beginning of a campaign drive that will raise money to finish the high school. It needs approximately $350,000 for the effort, Millar said.