GONE ROGUE: NIC Trustee Zimmerman Puts Accreditation in Jeopardy by Acting Unilaterally — Asks Idaho State Board of Education To Exercise Illegal Authority Over College
Tsk, tsk Tarie. You Broke The Number 1 Rule.
(Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) — A recent records request has revealed that North Idaho College Trustee Tarie Zimmerman has taken unilateral actions, without board approval, that may put the college’s accreditation into jeopardy.
On May 1st, 2023, Zimmerman sent an email to the Idaho State Board of Education, begging them to "intervene in the governance and affairs" of NIC.
The letter reveals the disturbing extent to which Zimmerman, one of Save NIC’s liberal trustees, has gone in her efforts to undermine the efforts of the Board of Trustees. In the letter, Zimmerman said “I have worked, to the best of my ability, to combat these efforts, but to no avail.” The “efforts” that she’s talking about “combatting” are the decisions made by the majority of the board. So, she is here admitting that she is breaking the ACCT’s #1 rule for College Trustees: “Act as a unit,” not as individuals.
Zimmerman’s letter states:
“I am specifically asking the Board to take action to intervene at NIC by exercising its oversight authority to temporarily manage the affairs of NIC during the pendency of NWCCU's accreditation review under the Show Cause sanction. […] I understand such action is unprecedented in Idaho, however I submit that you have sufficient legal authority to take such actions as you see fit, including my request.”
Zimmerman continues, saying:
“As a Trustee for NIC, I implore you to do what is right on behalf of the students and staff of NIC and the North Idaho community and exercise your power to save NIC.”
It is unclear whether or not Zimmerman is aware of the repeated statements made by the Idaho State Board of Education that specifically outline the reasons why the SBOE will not intervene at NIC. One example is found in the SBOE’s press release from December 21, 2022 which says:
“We are not the governing body for the community colleges. Each of our community colleges have a locally elected governing board and it’s that governing board’s responsibility to govern that institution in alignment with the requirements that are established by the accrediting agency. I think that is the right way to do it, we are a local control state. Our community colleges have local taxing districts that are supported by local patrons, and I think it is appropriate that those patrons elect local boards to govern those institutions.”
In another statement released by the State Board of Education, the board said:
“By statute, Idaho community colleges are governed by locally elected boards of trustees, not the State Board of Education. Although the State Board of Education has statutory authority to approve academic and career-technical education programs offered at NIC, it does not have authority over general governance of the college.”
Even Governor Brad Little has chimed in on the ongoing governance crisis at the college, releasing a statement saying:
“The State of Idaho is not involved in NIC’s operations outside what is statutorily required.”
Governor Little’s spokeswoman, former CDA Press reporter Madison Hardy said:
“North Idaho voters elect NIC’s board of trustees with the expectation that they will act with the institution’s best interest in mind and lead appropriately.”
So, in spite of the well publicized, multiple statements from authorities around the state, and in direct opposition to the training being given to the Trustees by the ACCT, Zimmerman went ahead anyway, and called on the State Board to illegally intervene in the governance of the college.
This is just one of MANY examples of how the liberal cabal in Kootenai County has attempted to usurp our elected officials, and undermine the will of the voters who installed our trustees. It’s also a form of election denial.
Considering how Zimmerman was elected, by unethically campaigning as a conservative, it’s no surprise that she is now, as a trustee, breaking the rules and acting unethically. The Idaho Tribune reached out to President Swayne, Trustee Zimmerman and the other trustees to ask questions about her actions. We have received no response.
The Tribune wrote:
We have recently received a response to a records request that shows that you decided to take it upon yourself, in direct opposition to the ACCT Training you have received, to unilaterally ask the Idaho State Board of Education to "intervene in the governance and affairs" of NIC. We would like to know the following:
What is your rationale in working to "combat the efforts" of the board majority, when the #1 rule as outlined by the ACCT is to "Act as a unit"?
Were you aware the IDSBOE has affirmed that NIC is governed locally, and that the SBOE is going to keep it that way, and that Governor Little has said, on record, that there is nothing he can do to intervene as NIC is governed locally?
Did you write the letter, or was the letter written for you? If the latter, who wrote it?
Is this a part of a larger quid-pro-quo for Save NIC's backing during the November elections?
Are you working to ensure that NIC is restructured to fall under the authority of the University of Idaho?
Did you do this without the knowledge of president Swayne? Do you lack confidence in his ability to work through the accreditation process and liaise with the SBOE? To us, it sure seems like this may be the case...
Unfortunately, our questions remain unanswered.
This is a part of a larger, newer, trend of stonewalling and lack of transparency coming from the College’s administration that seems to have taken root over the past week.
We believe it serves as further proof that it is, in fact, the liberal factions in our community that are truly responsible for the accreditation crisis at North Idaho College, and that it’s being covered up not only by President Swayne and the liberal trustees, but also by the courts.
This past Friday, President Swayne filed for a summary judgement in his ongoing lawsuit against North Idaho College with judge Cynthia Meyer. Throughout this whole court process, Judge Meyer seems to be acting as a partisan political activist, not an unbiased Judge committed to the truth. As of now, all of her findings have benefitted far-left groups like Save NIC, and seem to show complete and total disregard to the lawful authority of the College’s Board of Trustees and their ability to control the President’s contract.
Like Zimmerman, and the President, all Judge Meyer appears to be doing is nothing less than undermining the governance and authority of the NIC Trustees.
Is there hope for North Idaho College? That remains to be seen…
