NIC: Presidential search authorized
North Idaho College board chair Todd Banducci congratulates Lita Burns, acting President and former Vice President of Instruction, at the board meeting Friday afternoon at NIC during which Burns was officially appointed. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Audience members applaud as acting President Lita Burns, former Vice President of Instruction, was officially appointed. HANNAH NEFF/Press
From left, North Idaho College Trustees Greg McKenzie and Michael Barnes authorize a national search for a permanent president as well as an internal search for an interim president. HANNAH NEFF/Press
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COEUR d'ALENE — North Idaho College trustees on Friday unanimously appointed the current vice president of instruction as acting president.
They also authorized a national search for a permanent president, as well as an internal search for an interim.
“I'm excited about my new role,” Lita Burns said. “I'm looking for the opportunity to work with our board."
Burns is scheduled to retire Jan. 4. Should no interim be found before then, she said she did not know if she would continue in the role.
“I have to do this job that I've just been given and then we'll look and see what comes next,” Burns said. “There will probably be another transition in a few months.”
While her contract as vice president of instruction remains, Burns will be compensated up to a $200,000 annual salary for the time she is acting president.
Board chair Todd Banducci said he would like to see the permanent president be someone who is a member of the NIC community.
“It would be fairly seamless for a number of folks on this campus to be in charge,” Banducci said. “I just want to promote from within.”
Trustee Ken Howard said regardless, they should follow tradition and open the search nationally.
The national search will be led by at least two board members with the support of the NIC administration.
Trustee Christie Wood asked that in an effort to repair some of the division on the board, Banducci and Trustee Ken Howard be appointed to lead the search.
Trustee Greg McKenzie said either he or trustee Michael Barnes should be on the search committee with Banducci.
Barnes agreed with Wood, but a decision was not made.
In her motion to authorize an internal search for an interim president, Wood included the interim would be eligible to apply for the permanent presidential role.
McKenzie was the only nay vote on the motion. He said the interim would have an unfair advantage over the other candidates.
NIC attorney Mark Lyons said discussions including details of the interim role will most likely take place in many special meetings to follow.
The trustees met in executive session for about an hour before the meeting.
The moves followed the 3-2 vote Wednesday night to terminate then college President Rick MacLennan without cause. Banducci, McKenzie and Barnes voting for, Wood and Howard voting against.
